The 1997 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%

      Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)

      Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard

      Environment - current issues: no natural fresh water resources

      Environment - international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

      Geography - note: treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consisting of grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife

      @Baker Island:People

      Population: uninhabited note : American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit only and generally restricted to scientists and educators; a cemetery and cemetery ruins are located near the middle of the west coast

      @Baker Island:Government

      Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Baker Island

      Data code: FQ

      Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system

      National capital: none; administered from Washington, DC

      Flag description: the flag of the US is used

      Economy

      Economy - overview: no economic activity

      @Baker Island:Transportation

      Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one boat landing area along the middle of the west coast

      Airports: 1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m

      Transportation - note: there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast

      Military

      Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard

      Transnational Issues

      Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________

      BANGLADESH

      @Bangladesh: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: total: 144,000 sq km land: 133,910 sq km water : 10,090 sq km

      Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Wisconsin

      Land boundaries: total : 4,246 km border countries: Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km

      Coastline: 580 km

      Maritime claims: contiguous zone : 18 nm continental shelf: up to the outer limits of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

      Climate: tropical; cool, dry winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); cool, rainy monsoon (June to October)

      Terrain: mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast

      Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Reng Tlang 957 m

      Natural resources: natural gas, arable land, timber

      Land use: arable land: 73% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures : 5% forests and woodland: 15% other: 5% (1993 est.)

      Irrigated land: 31,000 sq km (1993 est.)

      Natural hazards: droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely flooded during the summer monsoon season

      Environment - current issues: many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; limited access to potable water; water-borne diseases prevalent; water pollution especially of fishing areas results from the use of commercial pesticides; intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation; deforestation; severe overpopulation

      Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

      @Bangladesh:People

      Population: 125,340,261 (July 1997 est.)

      Age structure: 0–14 years: 38% (male 24,397,316; female 23,417,919) 15–64 years : 59% (male 37,758,378; female 35,715,343) 65 years and over: 3% (male 2,204,445; female 1,846,860) (July 1997 est.)

      Population growth rate: 1.82% (1997 est.)

      Birth rate: 29.8 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

      Death rate: 10.9 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

      Net migration rate: −0.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

      Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years : 1.04 male(s)/female 15–64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.19 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

      Infant mortality rate: 100 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

      Life expectancy at birth: total population: 56.26 years male: 56.35 years female : 56.16 years (1997 est.)

      Total fertility rate: 3.45 children born/woman (1997 est.)

      Nationality: noun : Bangladeshi(s) adjective: Bangladesh

      Ethnic groups: Bengali 98%, Biharis 250,000, tribals less than 1 million

      Religions: Muslim 88.3%, Hindu 10.5%, other 1.2%

      Languages: Bangla (official), English

      Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 38.1% male: 49.4% female : 26.1% (1995 est.)

      @Bangladesh:Government

      Country name: conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh conventional short form: Bangladesh former : East Pakistan

      Data code: BG

      Government type: republic

      National capital: Dhaka

      Administrative divisions: 4 divisions; Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi note: there may be two new divisions named Barisal and Sylhet

      Independence: 16 December 1971 (from Pakistan)

      National holiday: Independence Day, 26 March (1971)

      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 Shahabuddin AHMED (since 9 October 1996); 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 Sheikh Hasina WAJED (since 23 June 1996) cabinet : Cabinet selected by the prime minister and appointed by the president elections: president elected by National Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 24 July 1996 (next to be held by NA October 2001); following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins