The World Factbook (1982)/Bangladesh

by the Central Intelligence Agency

BANGLADESH

(See reference map VIII)

LAND

142,500 km² ; 66% arable (including cultivated and fallow), 18% not available for cultivation, 16% forested

Land boundaries: 2,535 km

WATER

Limits of territorial waters (claimed): 12 nm (economic including fishing 200 nm)

Coastline: 580 km

PEOPLE

Population: 93,040,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 2.6%

Nationality: noun—Bangladeshi(s); adjective—Bangladesh

Ethnic divisions: predominantly Bengali; fewer than one million "Biharis" and fewer than one million tribals

Religion: 85% Muslim, about 12% Hindu, less than 1% Buddhist, Christian, or other

Language: Bengali

Literacy: 24.3% (1979-80)

Labor force: 30.7 million; extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, and Kuwait; 80% of labor force is in agriculture, 15% services, 11% industry (FY79)

GOVERNMENT

Official name: People's Republic of Bangladesh

Type: independent republic since December 1971; Government of President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman overthrown in August 1975; two other coups followed; after four years of martial law rule, presidential elections were held in June 1978 and a new parliament was elected in February 1979; President Ziaur Rahman assassinated in failed military coup on 30 May 1981; former Vice President Justice Abdus Sattar became President in election on 15 November 1981; martial law imposed 24 March 1982; government dissolved

Capital: Dacca

Political subdivisions: 19 districts, 413 thanas (counties), 4,365 unions (village groupings)

Legal system: based on English common law; constitution adopted December 1972; amended January 1975 to more authoritarian presidential system, changed by proclamation in April 1977 to reflect Islamic character of nation; further change, by proclamation in December 1978, to provide for the appointments of the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister, as well as other ministers of Cabinet rank, and to further define the powers of the President

National holiday: Independence Day, 26 March

Branches: constitution provides for unicameral legislature, strong President; independent judiciary; President has substantial control over the judiciary

Government leader: President Abdus Sattar replaced by martial law administrator Lt. Gen. H. M. ERSHAD in March 1982 coup

Suffrage: universal over age 18

Elections: Second Parliament (House of the Nation) elected in February 1979; elections every five years; most recent presidential election November 1981

Political parties and leaders: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (formed September 1978), Abdus Sattar; Awami League, Sheikh Hasina Wajed; United People's Party, Kazi Zafar Ahmed; Democratic League, Khondakar Mushtaque Ahmed; Muslim League, Khan A. Sabur; Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (National Socialist Party), M. A. Jalil; Bangladesh Communist Party (pro-Soviet), Manindra Moni Singh; numerous small parties; political activity banned following March 1982 coup

Communists: 2,500 members (est.)

Member of: ADB, Afro-Asian People's Solidarity Organization, Colombo Plan, Commonwealth, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMCO, ISCON, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO

ECONOMY

GNP: $9.1 billion est. (FY79, current prices), $100 per capita; real growth, 4.4% (FY79)

Agriculture: large subsistence farming, heavily dependent on monsoon rainfall; main crops are jute and rice; shortages—grain, cotton, and oilseed

Fishing: catch 835,000 metric tons (FY78)

Major industries: jute manufactures, food processing and cotton textiles

Electric power: 1,302,000 kW capacity (1980); 1.750 billion kWh produced (1980), 20 kWh per capita

Exports: $759 million (f.o.b. 1980); raw and manufactured jute, leather, tea

Imports: $2,348 million (f.o.b. 1980); foodgrains, fuels, raw cotton, fertilizer, manufactured products

Major trade partners: exports—US 14%, USSR 8%; imports—US 19%, Japan 12% (FY79)

Budget: (FY81) domestic revenue, $2,379 million; expenditures, $2,203 million

Monetary conversion rate: 16 taka=US$1 (June 1981)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS

Railroads: 4,085 km total (1980); 2,198 km meter gauge (1.000 m),l,852 km broad gauge (1.676 m), 35 km narrow gauge (0.762 m), 300 km double track; government owned

Highways: 45,633 km total; 4,076 km paved, 2,693 km gravel, 38,864 km earth

Inland waterways: 7,000 km; river steamers navigate main waterways

Ports: 1 major (Chittagong), 2 minor

Pipelines: 854 km natural gas

Civil air: 9 major transport aircraft

Airfields: 23 total, 15 usable; 17 with permanent-surface runways; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 7 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: adequate international radio-communications and landline service; fair domestic wire and microwave service; fair broadcast service; 100,000 (est.) telephones (0.1 per 100 popl.); 9 AM, 6 FM, 7 TV stations, and 1 ground satellite station

DEFENSE FORCES

Military manpower: males 15-49, 21,456,000; 11,190,000 fit for military service

Military budget: for fiscal year ending 30 June 1982, $1.7 billion; about 10.8% of central government budget