About Bangladesh
While traveling to a new country can often be an exciting experience, it can be difficult if you are not prepared for the journey. With this in mind we have provided some general outlines on the country of Bangladesh with a view to helping you on your trip.
Please be advised that the information contained on this page is meant for reference purposes only, and may change without prior warning. For the most up to date information on Bangladesh it is advised that you consult an expert.
Official Name: The Peoples Republic of Bangladesh or Gana Prajatantri Banladesh, simply known as Bangladesh. This country was previously called East Bengal and East Pakistan which stemmed from the Indian division in 1949.
Capital: The capital of Bangladesh is Dhaka, located in the middle of the country on the banks of the Buriganga River. Dhaka is the 11 th most populated city in the world.
Location : Located in South Asia on the Indian Sub-continent, Bangladesh shares a land border with India and Burma. The country is also situated on the Bay of Bengal.
Size: Bangladesh occupies a total area of 144,000 square kilometers making it the 102 nd largest country in the world. In comparative terms, Bangladesh is slightly smaller than the US state of Iowa.
Climate: Bangladesh experiences a tropical climate with an annual monsoon season that can be extremely severe. Due to the many rivers running through the country there are a large number of floods during the summer months (June through October). The country is characterized by hot and humid weather year round.
Population: With a total estimated population of 150,448,000, Bangladesh is the 9 th most populated country in the world, ranking ahead of Russia and behind Pakistan.
Life expectancy at birth: The life expectancy at birth for Bangladeshis is approximately 62.84 years.
Prevalence of HIV/AIDS: There is a relatively low prevalence of HIV/Aids in Bangladesh with approximately 0.1% of the population living with the disease. In real terms this is equivalent to 13,000 people in the country living with the disease.
Major illnesses: There are a number of disease risks in Bangladesh. These can include; bacterial diarrhea, typhoid fever, dengue fever, malaria, rabies, leptospirosis, hepatitis, and polio. Cases of H5N1, or Bird flu, have also been identified in the country.
Ethnic Groups: Bangladesh is a fairly homogenous country in terms of the ethnic makeup of the local populace. 98% of the Bangladeshi population identify themselves as being of Bengali ethnicity. The remaining 2% are a mix of many nationalities and tribal groups, including non-Bengali Muslims.
Languages: The official language of Bangladesh is Bangla, or Bengali. English is widely spoken throughout the country, however is not an official language.
Religion: The major religion in Bangladesh is Islam, with 83% of the population identifying as Muslim. 16% of the population is Hindu, and the remaining 1% observes a number of different religions including Christianity.
Government: Bangladesh is a parliamentary democracy, as such the Bangladeshi head of state is not directly elected, but rather is the head of the political party that secures the most votes in the general election.
Head of State: President Iajuddin Ahmed is the head of the Bangladeshi state. It is important to note that until a general election is called there is an interim government, and as such there is no current head of the Bangladeshi government outside of the President.
Economy : The Bangladeshi economy is in a state of growth (approximately 5 – 6% annually), however this growth is stifled by over regulation and government control of most of the nation's industry. Large deposits of natural gas and the country's many abundant natural resources are, however, encouraging more and more foreign investors to enter the Bangladeshi market in the hope of making large returns once the economy strengthens. Most the Bangladeshi economy is tied into the service sector, despite the fact that more than half of the nations residents are involved in agricultural labor, highlighting the vast disparity of income that exists in the nation. Money from Bangladeshi's working overseas, in conjunction with a strong garment industry are continuing to provide support to the economy, and many analysts are hopeful that Bangladesh will turn into the next Asian ‘tiger' nation.
GDP: Bangladesh has a purchasing power parity of approximately US$ 209.2 billion and an actual GDP of US$ 75.17 billion, meaning that this nation has the 51 st strongest economy in the world.
For more information about Bangladesh, the international health insurance plans that we can offer there, or to receive a free quote, please contact one of our expert advisers today.