Sylhet, Tangail, ThakurgaonIndependence:
16 December 1971 (from Pakistan; formerly East Pakistan)
Constitution:
4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended following coup of 24
March 1982, restored 10 November 1986, amended NA March 1991
Legal system:
based on English common law
National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 March (1971)
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Parliament (Jatiya Sangsad)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Abdur Rahman BISWAS (since 8 October 1991)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Khaleda ZIAUR Rahman (since 20 March 1991)
Political parties and leaders:
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Khaleda ZIAUR Rahman; Awami League (AL),
Sheikh Hasina WAZED; Jatiyo Party (JP), Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD;
Jamaat-E-Islami (JI), Ali KHAN; Bangladesh Communist Party (BCP), Saifuddin
Ahmed MANIK; National Awami Party (Muzaffar); Workers Party, leader NA;
Jatiyo Samajtantik Dal (National Socialist Party - SIRAJ), M. A. JALIL;
Ganotantri Party, leader NA; Islami Oikya Jote, leader NA; National
Democratic Party (NDP), leader NA; Muslim League, Khan A. SABUR; Democratic
League, Khondakar MUSHTAQUE Ahmed; United People's Party, Kazi ZAFAR Ahmed
Suffrage:
universal at age 18
Elections:
National Parliament:
last held 27 February 1991 (next to be held NA February 1996); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (330 total, 300 elected and 30 seats
reserved for women) BNP 168, AL 93, JP 35, JI 20, CBP 5, National Awami
Party (Muzaffar) 1, Workers Party 1, SIRAJ 1, Ganotantri Party 1, Islami
Oikya Jote 1, NDP 1, independents 3
President:
last held 8 October 1991 (next to be held by NA October 1996); results -
Abdur Rahman BISWAS received 52.1% of parliamentary vote
:Bangladesh Government
Communists:
5,000 members (1987 est.)
Member of:
AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS,
NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIIMOG, UPU, WHO, WFTU, WIPO,
WCL, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Abul AHSAN; Chancery at 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20007; telephone (202) 342-8372 through 8376; there is a Bangladesh
Consulate General in New York
US:
Ambassador William B. MILAM; Embassy at Diplomatic Enclave, Madani Avenue,
Baridhara, Dhaka (mailing address is G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1212);
telephone [880] (2) 884700-22; FAX [880] (2) 883648
Flag:
green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of center; green is
the traditional color of Islam
:Bangladesh Economy
Overview:
Bangladesh is one of the poorest nations in the world. The economy is based
on the output of a narrow range of agricultural products, such as jute,
which is the main cash crop and major source of export earnings, and rice.
Bangladesh is hampered by a relative lack of natural resources, population
growth of more than 2% a year, large-scale unemployment, and a limited
infrastructure; furthermore, it is highly vulnerable to natural disasters.
Despite these constraints, real GDP growth averaged about 3.5% annually
during 1985-89. A strong agricultural performance in FY90 pushed the growth
rate up to 6.2%, and FY91 saw further, though smaller, increases in output.
Alleviation of poverty remains the cornerstone of the government's
development strategy.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $23.1 billion, per capita $200; real growth rate
3.2% (FY91)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.9% (FY91 est.)
Unemployment rate:
30%, including underemployment (FY90 est.)
Budget:
revenues $2.24 billion; expenditures $3.7 billion (FY91)
Exports:
$1.7 billion (FY91 est.)
commodities:
garments, jute and jute goods, leather, shrimp
partners:
US 32%, Italy 8.1%, UK 6.2% (FY90)
Imports:
$3.5 billion (FY91 est.)
commodities:
