Introduction
Background
The huge delta region formed at the confluence of the Ganges and Brahmaputra River systems - now referred to as Bangladesh - was a loosely incorporated outpost of various empires centered on the Gangetic plain for much of the first millennium A.D. Muslim conversions and settlement in the region began in the 10th century, primarily from Arab and Persian traders and preachers. Europeans established trading posts in the area in the 16th century. Eventually the area known as Bengal, primarily Hindu in the western section and mostly Muslim in the eastern half, became part of British India. Partition in 1947 resulted in an eastern wing of Pakistan in the Muslim-majority area, which became East Pakistan. Calls for greater autonomy and animosity between the eastern and western wings of Pakistan led to a Bengali independence movement. That movement, led by the Awami League (AL) and supported by India, won the independence war for Bangladesh in 1971.
The post-independence AL government faced daunting challenges and in 1975 it was overthrown by the military, triggering a series of military coups that resulted in a military-backed government and subsequent creation of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 1978. That government also ended in a coup in 1981, followed by military-backed rule until democratic elections occurred in 1991. The BNP and AL have alternated in power since 1991, with the exception of a military-backed, emergency caretaker regime that suspended parliamentary elections planned for January 2007 in an effort to reform the political system and root out corruption. That government returned the country to fully democratic rule in December 2008 with the election of the AL and Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA. In January 2014, the incumbent AL won the national election by an overwhelming majority after the BNP boycotted the election, which extended HASINA's term as prime minister. In December 2018, HASINA secured a third consecutive term (fourth overall) with the AL coalition securing 96% of available seats, amid widespread claims of election irregularities. With the help of international development assistance, Bangladesh has reduced the poverty rate from over half of the population to less than a third, achieved Millennium Development Goals for maternal and child health, and made great progress in food security since independence. The economy has grown at an annual average of about 6% for the last two decades. In 2021 the UN approved a resolution to allow Bangladesh to officially graduate from least-developed-country (LDC) status in 2026, based on World Bank criteria.
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Geography
Location
Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
Geographic coordinates
24 00 N, 90 00 E
Map references
Asia
Area - comparative
slightly larger than Pennsylvania and New Jersey combined; slightly smaller than Iowa
Land boundaries
total: 4,413 km
border countries (2): Burma 271 km; India 4,142 km
Coastline
580 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: to the outer limits of the continental margin
Climate
tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
Terrain
mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast
Elevation
highest point: Mowdok Taung 1,060 m
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 85 m
Natural resources
natural gas, arable land, timber, coal
Land use
agricultural land: 70.1% (2018 est.)
arable land: 59% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 6.5% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 4.6% (2018 est.)
forest: 11.1% (2018 est.)
other: 18.8% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land
81,270 sq km (2020)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Brahmaputra river mouth (shared with China [s] and India) - 3,969 km; Ganges river mouth (shared with India [s]) - 2,704 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage: Brahmaputra (651,335 sq km), Ganges (1,016,124 sq km)
Major aquifers
Indus-Ganges-Brahmaputra Basin
Natural hazards
droughts; cyclones; much of the country routinely inundated during the summer monsoon season
Geography - note
most of the country is situated on deltas of large rivers flowing from the Himalayas: the Ganges unites with the Jamuna (main channel of the Brahmaputra) and later joins the Meghna to eventually empty into the Bay of Bengal
People and Society
Nationality
noun: Bangladeshi(s)
adjective: Bangladeshi
Ethnic groups
Bengali at least 98.9%, other indigenous ethnic groups 1.1% (2011 est.)
note: Bangladesh's government recognizes 27 indigenous ethnic groups under the 2010 Cultural Institution for Small Anthropological Groups Act; other sources estimate there are about 75 ethnic groups; critics of the 2011 census claim that it underestimates the size of Bangladesh's ethnic population
Languages
Bangla 98.8% (official, also known as Bengali), other 1.2% (2011 est.)
major-language sample(s):
বিশ্ব ফ্যাক্টবুক, মৌলিক তথ্যের অপরিহার্য উৎস (Bangla)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Muslim 88.4%, other 11.6% (2020 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 25.38% (male 21,587,699/female 20,846,378)
15-64 years: 67.09% (male 54,560,958/female 57,599,478)
65 years and over: 7.53% (2023 est.) (male 5,871,022/female 6,718,930)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 47.7
youth dependency ratio: 39.1
elderly dependency ratio: 8.6
potential support ratio: 11.6 (2021 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 40.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
23.210 million DHAKA (capital), 5.380 million Chittagong, 955,000 Khulna, 962,000 Rajshahi, 964,000 Sylhet, 906,000 Bogra (2023)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
18.6 years (2017/18 est.)
note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49
Infant mortality rate
total: 29.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
male: 32.12 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 26.93 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 52
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 74.96 years (2023 est.)
male: 72.8 years
female: 77.21 years
comparison ranking: total population 133
Gross reproduction rate
1.02 (2023 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
62.7% (2019)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 99% of population
rural: 98.7% of population
total: 98.9% of population
unimproved: urban: 1% of population
rural: 1.3% of population
total: 1.1% of population (2020 est.)
Current health expenditure
2.6% of GDP (2020)
Physicians density
0.67 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density
0.8 beds/1,000 population (2016)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 85.3% of population
rural: 73.5% of population
total: 78% of population
unimproved: urban: 14.7% of population
rural: 26.5% of population
total: 22% of population (2020 est.)
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk: high (2023)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in some locations
water contact diseases: leptospirosis
animal contact diseases: rabies
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 187
Tobacco use
total: 34.7% (2020 est.)
male: 52.2% (2020 est.)
female: 17.1% (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 17
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
80.1% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 15.5%
women married by age 18: 51.4% (2019 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74.9%
male: 77.8%
female: 72% (2020)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2020)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 14.7% (2021 est.)
male: 12.5%
female: 19.6%
comparison ranking: total 119
Environment
Environment - current issues
many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; waterborne diseases prevalent in surface water; water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results from the use of commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by naturally occurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; destruction of wetlands; severe overpopulation with noise pollution
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate
tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
Land use
agricultural land: 70.1% (2018 est.)
arable land: 59% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 6.5% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 4.6% (2018 est.)
forest: 11.1% (2018 est.)
other: 18.8% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 40.5% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Food insecurity
severe localized food insecurity: due to economic constraints and high prices of important food items - food insecurity is expected to remain fragile, given persisting economic constraints; domestic prices of wheat flour and palm oil, important food items, were at high levels in January 2023; the result of elevated international prices of energy, fuel and food, having been transmitted to the domestic markets (2023)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 45.99 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 84.25 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 59.3 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 14,778,497 tons (2012 est.)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Brahmaputra river mouth (shared with China [s] and India) - 3,969 km; Ganges river mouth (shared with India [s]) - 2,704 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage: Brahmaputra (651,335 sq km), Ganges (1,016,124 sq km)
Major aquifers
Indus-Ganges-Brahmaputra Basin
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 3.6 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 770 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 31.5 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
1.23 trillion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh
conventional short form: Bangladesh
local long form: Gana Prajatantri Bangladesh
local short form: Bangladesh
former: East Bengal, East Pakistan
etymology: the name - a compound of the Bengali words "Bangla" (Bengal) and "desh" (country) - means "Country of Bengal"
Government type
parliamentary republic
Capital
name: Dhaka
geographic coordinates: 23 43 N, 90 24 E
time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the origins of the name are unclear, but some sources state that the city's site was originally called "dhakka," meaning "watchtower," and that the area served as a watch-station for Bengal rulers
Administrative divisions
8 divisions; Barishal, Chattogram, Dhaka, Khulna, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sylhet
Independence
16 December 1971 (from Pakistan)
National holiday
Independence Day, 26 March (1971); Victory Day, 16 December (1971); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of the Awami League's declaration of an independent Bangladesh, and 16 December (Victory Day) memorializes the military victory over Pakistan and the official creation of the state of Bangladesh
Constitution
history: previous 1935, 1956, 1962 (preindependence); latest enacted 4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended March 1982, restored November 1986
amendments: proposed by the House of the Nation; approval requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the House membership and assent of the president of the republic; amended many times, last in 2018
Legal system
mixed legal system of mostly English common law and Islamic law
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Bangladesh
dual citizenship recognized: yes, but limited to select countries
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Mohammad Shahabuddin CHUPPI (since 24 April 2023)
head of government: Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA Wazed (since 6 January 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the prime minister, appointed by the president
elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the National Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 13 February 2023 (next to be held by 2028); the president appoints as prime minister the majority party leader in the National Parliament
election results: President Abdul HAMID (AL) reelected by the National Parliament unopposed for a second term; Sheikh HASINA reappointed prime minister as leader of the majority AL party following parliamentary election in 2023
Legislative branch
description: unicameral House of the Nation or Jatiya Sangsad (350 seats; 300 members in single-seat territorial constituencies directly elected by simple majority vote; 50 members - reserved for women only - indirectly elected by the House of the Nation membership by proportional representation vote using single transferable vote method; all members serve 5-year terms)
elections: last held on 30 December 2018 (next to be held on 7 January 2024)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party as of February 2022 - AL 299, JP 27, BNP 7, other 10, independent 7; composition - men 277, women 73, percent of women 20.9%
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court of Bangladesh (organized into the Appellate Division with 7 justices and the High Court Division with 99 justices)
judge selection and term of office: chief justice and justices appointed by the president; justices serve until retirement at age 67
subordinate courts: civil courts include: Assistant Judge's Court; Joint District Judge's Court; Additional District Judge's Court; District Judge's Court; criminal courts include: Court of Sessions; Court of Metropolitan Sessions; Metropolitan Magistrate Courts; Magistrate Court; special courts/tribunals
Political parties and leaders
Awami League or AL [Sheikh HASINA]
Bangladesh Jamaat-i-Islami or JIB [Shafiqur RAHMAN]
Bangladesh Nationalist Front or BNF [S. M. Abul Kalam AZAD]
Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP [Tarique RAHMAN, acting chairperson; Khaleda ZIA]
Bangladesh Tariqat Federation or BTF [Syed Nozibul Bashar MAIZBHANDARI]
Jatiya Party or JP (Ershad faction) [Rowshan ERSHAD]
Jatiya Party or JP (Manju faction) [Anwar Hossain MANJU]
Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Oli AHMED]
National Socialist Party (Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal) or JSD [Hasanul Haque INU]
Workers Party or WP [Rashed Khan MENON]
International organization participation
ADB, ARF, BIMSTEC, C, CD, CICA (observer), CP, D-8, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Muhammad IMRAN (since 12 December 2022)
chancery: 3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 244-0183
FAX: [1] (202) 244-2771
email address and website:
mission.washington@mofa.gov.bd
http://www.bdembassyusa.org/
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter HAAS (since 15 March 2022)
embassy: Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka - 1212
mailing address: 6120 Dhaka Place, Washington DC 20521-6120
telephone: [880] (2) 5566-2000
FAX: [880] (2) 5566-2907
email address and website:
DhakaACS@state.gov
https://bd.usembassy.gov/
Flag description
green field with a large red disk shifted slightly to the hoist side of center; the red disk represents the rising sun and the sacrifice to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the lush vegetation of Bangladesh
National symbol(s)
Bengal tiger, water lily; national colors: green, red
National anthem
name: "Amar Shonar Bangla" (My Golden Bengal)
lyrics/music: Rabindranath TAGORE
note: adopted 1971; Rabindranath TAGORE, a Nobel laureate, also wrote India's national anthem
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Bagerhat Historic Mosque (c); Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur (c); Sundarbans (n)
Economy
Economic overview
one of the fastest growing economies; significant poverty reduction; COVID-19 adversely impacted female labor force participation and undermined previously stable financial conditions; looking to diversify beyond clothing industry; fairly low government debt; new taxation law struggling to increase government revenues
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$1.001 trillion (2021 est.)
$936.113 billion (2020 est.)
$904.912 billion (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
comparison ranking: 27
Real GDP per capita
$5,900 (2021 est.)
$5,600 (2020 est.)
$5,500 (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
comparison ranking: 166
GDP (official exchange rate)
$329.545 billion (2020 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
5.55% (2021 est.)
5.69% (2020 est.)
5.59% (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 59
Credit ratings
Fitch rating: BB- (2014)
Moody's rating: Ba3 (2012)
Standard & Poors rating: BB- (2010)
note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 14.2% (2017 est.)
industry: 29.3% (2017 est.)
services: 56.5% (2017 est.)
comparison rankings: services 148; industry 83; agriculture 68
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 68.7% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 6% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 30.5% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 1% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 15% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -20.3% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products
rice, potatoes, maize, sugar cane, milk, vegetables, onions, jute, mangoes/guavas, wheat
Industries
jute, cotton, garments, paper, leather, fertilizer, iron and steel, cement, petroleum products, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, tea, salt, sugar, edible oils, soap and detergent, fabricated metal products, electricity, natural gas
Labor force
70.961 million (2021 est.)
note: extensive migration of labor to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Malaysia
comparison ranking: 8
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 42.7%
industry: 20.5%
services: 36.9% (2016 est.)
Unemployment rate
5.23% (2021 est.)
5.41% (2020 est.)
4.44% (2019 est.)
note: about 40% of the population is underemployed; many persons counted as employed work only a few hours a week and at low wages
comparison ranking: 143
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 14.7% (2021 est.)
male: 12.5%
female: 19.6%
comparison ranking: total 119
Population below poverty line
24.3% (2016 est.)
Average household expenditures
on food: 53.5% of household expenditures (2018 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 1.9% of household expenditures (2018 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 4%
highest 10%: 27% (2010 est.)
Budget
revenues: $30.023 billion (2019 est.)
expenditures: $46.379 billion (2019 est.)
Fiscal year
1 July - 30 June
Current account balance
-$15.563 billion (2021 est.)
$1.193 billion (2020 est.)
-$2.949 billion (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 201
Exports
$49.386 billion (2021 est.)
$38.476 billion (2020 est.)
$44.961 billion (2019 est.)
note: Data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports.
comparison ranking: 65
Exports - partners
United States 15%, Germany 14%, United Kingdom 8%, Spain 7%, France 7% (2019)
Exports - commodities
clothing, knitwear, leather footwear (2021)
Imports
$85.303 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$56.776 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$64.234 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
comparison ranking: 49
Imports - partners
China 31%, India 15%, Singapore 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cotton, natural gas, scrap iron, wheat (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$46.166 billion (31 December 2021 est.)
$43.172 billion (31 December 2020 est.)
$32.697 billion (31 December 2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 46
Debt - external
$50.26 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$41.85 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
comparison ranking: 68
Exchange rates
taka (BDT) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
85.084 (2021 est.)
84.871 (2020 est.)
84.454 (2019 est.)
83.466 (2018 est.)
80.438 (2017 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
population without electricity: 11 million (2020)
electrification - total population: 98.9% (2021)
electrification - urban areas: 99.7% (2021)
electrification - rural areas: 98.5% (2021)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 18.461 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 76,849,877,000 kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
imports: 6.786 billion kWh (2019 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 9.537 billion kWh (2019 est.)
comparison rankings: installed generating capacity 51; transmission/distribution losses 35; imports 34; exports 201; consumption 39
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 98.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Nuclear energy
Number of operational nuclear reactors: 0
Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 2 (2023)
Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 0GW
Percent of total electricity production: 0%
Percent of total energy produced: 0%
Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 0
Coal
production: 1.016 million metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 9.345 million metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 8.329 million metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 293 million metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 13,500 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 122,500 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 21,600 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 28 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production: 28,629,927,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
consumption: 31,268,968,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
imports: 2,639,041,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
proven reserves: 126.293 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
96.18 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 16.538 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 18.535 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 61.107 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 44
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 587,476 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0 (2021 est.) less than 1
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 85
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 181,021,227 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107 (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 10
Telecommunication systems
general assessment: Bangladesh’s economic resurgence over the last decade took a battering in 2020 and 2021 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic; the country had been on track to move off the United Nation’s Least Developed Countries list by 2026, however the crisis may have pushed that back a few years; the telecommunications sector experienced a set of challenges, with mobile data usage exploding at the same time as many consumers were being forced to curb their spending in other areas; the demand on data grew so large and so rapidly that Bangladesh came close to running out of bandwidth; at the start of 2020, Bangladesh was consuming around 900Gb/s on average, well below the 2,642GB/s capacity of its submarine cables; this ballooned to over 2,300Gb/s during the pandemic; Bangladesh was looking forward to adding 7,200Gb/s capacity when the SEA-ME-WE-6 submarine cable goes into service in mid-2024, but the sudden upsurge in downloads is forcing state-run company Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL) to scramble to find alternatives before the country’s internet supply is maxed out; the increased demand during the Covid-19 crisis also put pressure on the country’s existing mobile networks, already under strain as a result of strong growth in the mobile broadband market coupled with significant untapped potential for mobile services in general across the country; this led to premium prices being paid at auction for spectrum in the 1800MHz and 2100MHz bands, most of which will be used to enhance and expand LTE services; a 5G spectrum auction had been anticipated for 2020, but low interest from the MNOs in going down that path when there are still so many areas waiting for LTE access means that 5G will likely be deferred until 2023 (2021)
domestic: fixed-line teledensity remains less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has been increasing rapidly and now exceeds 107 per 100 persons; mobile subscriber growth is anticipated over the next five years to 2023 (2021)
international: country code - 880; landing points for the SeaMeWe-4 and SeaMeWe-5 fiber-optic submarine cable system that provides links to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 6; international radiotelephone communications and landline service to neighboring countries (2019)
Broadcast media
state-owned Bangladesh Television (BTV) broadcasts throughout the country. Some channels, such as BTV World, operate via satellite. The government also owns a medium wave radio channel and some private FM radio broadcast news channels. Of the 41 Bangladesh approved TV stations, 26 are currently being used to broadcast. Of those, 23 operate under private management via cable distribution. Collectively, TV channels can reach more than 50 million people across the country.
Internet users
total: 66.3 million (2021 est.)
percent of population: 39% (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total 15
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 10,052,819 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 19
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 6 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 30
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 5,984,155 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 63.82 million (2018) mt-km
Airports - with paved runways
16
civil airports: 1
military airports: 2
joint use (civil-military) airports: 2
other airports: 11
note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
2
note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control
Heliports
3 (2021)
Pipelines
2,950 km gas (2013)
Railways
total: 2,460 km (2014)
narrow gauge: 1,801 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge
broad gauge: 659 km (2014) 1.676-m gauge
comparison ranking: total 66
Roadways
total: 369,105 km (2018)
paved: 110,311 km (2018)
unpaved: 258,794 km (2018)
comparison ranking: total 20
Waterways
8,370 km (2011) (includes up to 3,060 km of main cargo routes; network reduced to 5,200 km in the dry season)
comparison ranking: 18
Merchant marine
total: 511 (2022)
by type: bulk carrier 56, container ship 10, general cargo 150, oil tanker 152, other 143
comparison ranking: total 41
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Chattogram (Chittagong)
container port(s) (TEUs): Chattogram (Chittagong) (3,214,548) (2021)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Moheshkhali (2 FSRU)
river port(s): Mongla Port (Sela River)
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Armed Forces of Bangladesh (aka Bangladesh Defense Force): Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Air Force
Ministry of Home Affairs: Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Bangladesh Coast Guard, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Ansars, Village Defense Party (VDP) (2023)
note 1: the Armed Forces of Bangladesh are jointly administered by the Ministry of Defense (MOD) and the Armed Forces Division (AFD), both under the Prime Minister's Office; the AFD has ministerial status and parallel functions with MOD; the AFD is a joint coordinating headquarters for the three services and also functions as a joint command center during wartime; to coordinate policy, the prime minister and the president are advised by a six-member board, which includes the three service chiefs of staff, the principal staff officer of the AFD, and the military secretaries to the prime minister and president
note 2: the RAB, Ansars, and VDP are paramilitary organizations for internal security; the RAB is a joint task force founded in 2004 and composed of members of the police, Army, Navy, Air Force, and Border Guards seconded to the RAB from their respective units; its mandate includes internal security, intelligence gathering related to criminal activities, and government-directed investigations
Military expenditures
1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.3% of GDP (2020)
1.4% of GDP (2019)
1.4% of GDP (2018)
comparison ranking: 123
Military and security service personnel strengths
information varies; approximately 160,000 total active personnel (130,000 Army; 15,000 Navy; 15,000 Air Force) (2023)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
much of the military's inventory is comprised of Chinese- and Russian-origin equipment; in recent years, China has been the leading provider of arms to Bangladesh (2023)
Military service age and obligation
16-21 years of age for voluntary military service; Bangladeshi nationality and 10th grade education required; officers: 17-21 years of age, Bangladeshi nationality, and 12th grade education required (2023)
Military deployments
approximately 1,400 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,650 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO; plus about 200 police); 120 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 1,375 Mali (MINUSMA; plus about 280 police); 1,600 South Sudan (UNMISS); 150 Sudan (UNISFA) (2023)
Military - note
the military’s primary responsibility is external defense but it also has a domestic security role and has traditionally been a significant player in the country’s politics, as well as its economy; the military has a long history of participating in UN peacekeeping missions, which has provided operational experience and a source of funding; it runs an international institute for the training of peacekeepers; the military also conducts multinational and bilateral exercises with foreign partners, particularly India; it has commercial business interests in such areas as banking, food, hotels, manufacturing, real estate, and shipbuilding, and manages government infrastructure and construction projects
the Army is the dominant service and its primary combat forces are approximately 10 infantry divisions, complemented by several independent brigades and regiments of armor, artillery, and commandos; it maintains a large presence in the Chittagong Hills area where it conducted counterinsurgency operations against tribal guerrillas from the 1970s until the late 1990s; the Navy conducts both coastal and blue water operations and participates in UN and humanitarian missions and multinational exercises; its principal combat ships are a mix of approximately 15 frigates, corvettes, and large patrol ships, as well as a few attack submarines; the Air Force has about 50 mostly Chinese- and Russian-made combat aircraft organized into several squadrons (2023)
Space
Space agency/agencies
Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization (SPARRSO; established 1980) (2023)
Space program overview
has a modest space program focused on designing, building, and operating satellites, particularly those with remote sensing (RS) capabilities; researching a variety of other space-related capabilities and technologies; has a government-owned company for acquiring and operating satellites (Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited or BSCL, established in 2017); has relations with several foreign space agencies and commercial entities, including those of France, Japan, Russia, and the US (2023)
note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Terrorist group(s): Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami/Bangladesh; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in Bangladesh (ISB); al-Qa'ida; al-Qa'ida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
Bangladesh-Burma: the border area has historically been an area of conflict and instability; militants, particularly ethnic armed groups (EAGs) from Burma, continue to operate in the border region and conduct illegal crossings, and both countries maintain considerable numbers of security personnel along the border; Burmese military forces actively conduct operations against EAGs; in 2022, Burmese artillery struck Bangladesh territory several times during military operations against Arakan Army rebels inside Rakhine; as of 2017, Burmese border authorities had constructed about 130 miles of border fencing and had planned to fence off the remainder of the border
Bangladesh-India: Bangladesh referred its maritime boundary claims with Burma and India to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea; Indian Prime Minister Singh's September 2011 visit to Bangladesh resulted in the signing of a Protocol to the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement between India and Bangladesh, which had called for the settlement of longstanding boundary disputes over un-demarcated areas and the exchange of territorial enclaves, but which had never been implemented
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 967,842 (Burma) (2023)
IDPs: 427,000 (conflict, development, human rights violations, religious persecution, natural disasters) (2022)
stateless persons: 929,606 (2022)
Illicit drugs
transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries; does not manufacture precursor chemicals with the exception of sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and toluene