USEFUL BUSINESS INFORMATION ON BANGLADESH

1. Country Brief:

A. Introduction - Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is surrounded by India on all sides except for a small border with Myanmar to the far southeast and the Bay of Bengal to the south. Together with the Indian state of West Bengal, it makes up the ethno-linguistic region of Bengal. The name Bangladesh means "Country of Bengal"

Bangladesh appeared on the world map as an independent and sovereign state on December 16, 1971 following the victory at the War of Liberation with Pakistan, Bangladesh is a member of the United Nations (UN) and its various specialized bodies and agencies including ESCAP. She is also a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) including their various affiliated organs.

In spite of its liberation narrative, Bangladesh's development has since been marred by political turmoil, with fourteen different heads of government and at least four military coups.

B. Climate - Located in one of the wettest regions of the world, Bangladesh has a tropical monsoon climate characterized by rain bearing winds, warm temperatures and high humidity.

The country has mainly four seasons: Winter (Dec-Feb), summer (Mar-May), Monsoon (June-Sept) and autumn (Oct-Nov). Bangladesh has been subject to climatic extremities. Especially during summer and monsoon, tropical cyclones, storms and tidal bores cause widespread damage and destruction.

C. Geographical Area - Total 144,000 km² (94th), 55,599 sq mi 

D. Language – Bengali (Bangla)

E. Currency With Exchange Rate. - Taka (BDT)

1.00 BDT = 0.0145705 USD

F. Population - 2007 estimate 150,448,339[1] (7th)

G. Major Cities - Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Barisal

2. Transportation:

A. Railway - Total: 2,745 km

Broad gauge: 923 km 1.676-m gauge

Narrow gauge: 1,822 km 1.000-m gauge (1998 est.)

B. Road

Highways:

Total: 204,022 km

Paved: 25,095 km

Unpaved: 178,927 km (1996 est.)

C. Airports - Airports: 16 (1998 est.)

Airports—with paved runways: Total: 15

Airports—with unpaved runways: Total: 1

D. Waterways - 5,150-8,046 km navigable waterways (includes 2,575-3,058 km main cargo routes)

Ports and harbors: Chittagong, Dhaka, Mongla Port

Merchant marine: Total: 40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 315,855 GRT/453,002 DWT

Ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 33, oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1998 est.)

E. Sea ports - 2 seaports and 2 international (Dhaka and Chittagong)

3. Economy:

Bangladesh has made significant strides in its economic sector since its independence in 1971. Bangladeshi garments industry is one of the largest and comprehensive industry.  Currently, Bangladesh is the third largest rice producing country in the world.[citation needed] The land is devoted mainly to rice and jute cultivation, although wheat production has increased in recent years;[citation needed] the country is largely self-sufficient in rice production

A. Major Manufacturing: Readymade garment, raw jute, jute goods, tea.

B. Major Export - Major exports are raw jute, jute goods, tea, leather, frozen fish and read-made garments.

C. Import - Major imports are capital goods, food grains, petroleum and oil, yarn and textiles.

E. Major Industry – Major Industries are jute goods, ready-made garments, foodstuff processing, and chemical production.

F. Trade balance - Exports: US$5.523 billion (1999). Imports: US$8.381 billion (1999).

Exports $6.6 billion (2001)

Imports $8.7 billion (2001)