Bangladesh

General Info

Location and Geography:

Bangladesh, located in the Eastern part of South Asia, straddles the Tropic of Cancer and is enclosed by India with the exception of a short South-eastern frontier with Myanmar (formerly Burma). The Bay of Bengal lies to the South. The most significant feature of the landscape is the rivers, which have moulded not only their environment but also the way the people live. The landmass is deltaic comprising mainly the delta of three rivers: the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the Maghna, with a network of numerous canals. The land is mostly flat alluvial plain with some hills in the South-east. Flooding of the land is a major problem. Two-thirds of the land are arable and 16 percent is covered with forests. The climate is sub-tropical and is dominated by the seasonally reversing monsoons. Winters are cool and dry, summers are hot and humid. The subtropical climate has made the country luxuriant in vegetation.

Economic Indicators

Trade Figures

a.

b.

c.

Major exports: Readymade garments, frozen foods (shrimps), leather, leather products, jute, jute products, tea, ceramic, textile fabrics, home textile, chemical product, light engineering products including bi-cycle.

Major imports: Oil, edible oil, petroleum product, wheat, seeds, fertilizer, yarn, capital goods, machinery, power generating machinery, scientific & medical equipment, iron & steel, motor vehicles, raw cotton, chemicals.

d.

Others

Industry

Cotton textiles, jute, garments, tea processing, paper newsprint, cement, chemical fertilizer, light engineering, sugar

Agriculture

Rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, tobacco, pulses, oilseeds, spices, fruit; beef, milk, poultry

The majority of the population in Bangladesh is engaged in agriculture. The country’s rivers and the sea coast are suitable for fisheries. Jute has traditionally occupied a pivotal position in the Bangladeshi economy since it links agriculture to industry. Bangladesh has a significant number of large and small sized industries run both by public and private ownership, and based on indigenous and imported raw materials. Among them are jute and cotton textiles, garments, paper, newsprint, fertilisers, and cigarettes. Bangladesh produces most of its domestic food needs in rice, wheat, corn, grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables. Rice is the staple food grain. Natural gas is the most important source of energy in the country. The other main natural resources are lignite coal, limestone, glass sand and timber.