The 2003 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

the summer monsoon season

      Environment - current issues:

       many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate

       flood-prone land; water-borne 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; severe overpopulation

      Environment - international agreements:

       party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto

       Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental

       Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban,

       Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

       signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

      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 Bangladesh

      Population:

       138,448,210 (July 2003 est.)

      Age structure:

       0–14 years: 34.1% (male 24,255,300; female 23,007,632)

       15–64 years: 62.5% (male 44,261,739; female 42,281,331)

       65 years and over: 3.4% (male 2,506,606; female 2,135,602) (2003

       est.)

      Median age:

       total: 21.2 years

       male: 21.2 years

       female: 21.1 years (2002)

      Population growth rate:

       2.06% (2003 est.)

      Birth rate:

       29.9 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

      Death rate:

       8.63 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

      Net migration rate:

       −0.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

      Sex ratio:

       at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

       under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

       15–64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

       65 years and over: 1.17 male(s)/female

       total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

      Infant mortality rate:

       total: 66.08 deaths/1,000 live births

       female: 64.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

       male: 67.21 deaths/1,000 live births

      Life expectancy at birth:

       total population: 61.33 years

       male: 61.46 years

       female: 61.2 years (2003 est.)

      Total fertility rate:

       3.17 children born/woman (2003 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

       less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

       13,000 (2001 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - deaths:

       650 (2001 est.)

      Nationality:

       noun: Bangladeshi(s)

       adjective: Bangladeshi

      Ethnic groups:

       Bengali 98%, tribal groups, non-Bengali Muslims (1998)

      Religions:

       Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998)

      Languages:

       Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English

      Literacy:

       definition: age 15 and over can read and write

       total population: 43.1%

       male: 53.9%

       female: 31.8% (2003 est.)

      Government Bangladesh

      Country name:

       conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh

       conventional short form: Bangladesh

       former: East Pakistan

      Government type:

       parliamentary democracy

      Capital:

       Dhaka

      Administrative divisions:

       5 divisions; Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi; note -

       there may be one additional division named Sylhet

      Independence:

       16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan); note - 26 March 1971 is the

       date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is known

       as Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state

       of Bangladesh

      National holiday:

       Independence Day, 26 March (1971); note - 26 March 1971 is the date

       of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is Victory Day

       and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh

      Constitution:

       4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended following

       coup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986, amended many times

      Legal system:

       based on English common law

      Suffrage:

       18 years of age; universal

      Executive branch:

       chief of state: President Iajuddin AHMED (since 6 September 2002);

       note - the president's duties are normally ceremonial, but with the

       13th amendment to the constitution ("Caretaker Government

       Amendment"), the president's role becomes significant at times when

       Parliament is dissolved and a caretaker government is installed - at

       presidential direction - to supervise the elections

       head of government: Prime Minister Khaleda ZIA (since 10 October

       2001)

       cabinet: Cabinet selected by the prime minister and appointed by the

       president

       elections: president elected by National Parliament for a five-year

       term; election scheduled for 16 September 2002 was not held since

       Iajuddin AHMED was the only presidential candidate; he was sworn in

       on 6 September 2002 (next election to be held by NA 2007); following

       legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most

       seats is usually appointed prime minister by the president

       election results: Iajuddin