World

Bangladesh Profile in Brief

Bangladesh is known as one of the most densely populous countries in the world with nearly 160 million people. Bangladesh is officially recognized as The People’s Republic of Bangladesh, which is situated in South Asia and located on the fertile Bengle delta.

Poverty has a widespread effect on half of the population. More than half of population lives under one dollar per day. In recent times, a rapid population growth has been declined and educations as well as health cares system have been improved to a large extent.

The major occupation of Bangladeshi people is agriculture, but due to a large number of populations the agriculture cannot meet the demands for jobs. Due to less employment opportunities many Bangladeshis from all walks of life fly to foreign countries in search of job. Sometimes people seek illegal ways to go Malaysia, UK, USA, and Africa etc.

Key facts:

Ø Full name People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Ø Population: Approximately 160 million

Ø Capital & largest city: Dhaka

Ø Area: 147570 sq. km.

Ø Major language: Bengali

Ø Major religion: Islam, Hinduism

Ø Monetary unit: 1 taka = 100 paisa

Ø Main exports: garments, fish, jute goods, and leather products.

Ø GNI per capita: $780 (world bank, 2011)

Ø Corruption rank: 144/176 (Transparency International)

The country is trying to diversify its economy by industrial revolution. The government and country itself is investing

The country is trying to diversify its economy, with industrial development a priority. Overseas investors have pumped money into manufacturing and the energy sector. The collapse of a garment factory in 2013 with the loss of more than 1,000 lives brought workers out onto the streets to demand better conditions.



Much of Bangladesh is low-lying and vulnerable to flooding

Onshore and offshore gas reserves hold out some chance of future prosperity. There has been a debate about whether the reserves should be kept for domestic use or exported. International companies are involved in the gas sector.

Formerly East Pakistan, Bangladesh came into being only in 1971, when the two parts of Pakistan split after a bitter war, which drew, in neighbouring India.

Bangladesh spent 15 years under military rule and, although democracy was restored in 1990, the political scene remains volatile.



The hostility between the two major parties – the Awami League and Bangladesh National Party – reflects the bitterness politics in the country itself as well as dangerous in the world. Whoever comes in position they use their power to create violence, anarchy and oppression on opposition party and people as well as general public. More people have been killed in the Awami-League and BNP political clashes.



Most intelligent and analysts believe that religious extremism can be on going concern for the country. At the same time, the government of Bangladesh hasalready outlawed two Islamic organisations. Bangladesh has been criticised in the world for its human right, mainly women is tortured for dowry and police in the custody tortures prisoners.

To conclude the article, the country is vulnerable due to unexpected floods and cyclones. The country can be affected by predicted rises in the sea level and religious extremism.

This article has been written based on BBC News, CNN, Wikipedia, World Bank and Transparency International.

By Osman Monshi, An MSc Student at BPP University, UK