BANGLADESH

Formal Name:

 The People's Republic of  Bangladesh

Location and Area:

 147,570 square kilometers sized, Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India, consists of flat fertile alluvial land.

Climate:

Sub-tropical monsoon, average temperature26.5°C. Winter (Nov. - Feb.), more comfortable season, the minimum 4°C;

Summer (Mar. - June), the maximum 45°C; monsoon (July-Oct.) average 30°C.

Rainfall of the year about 100cm in West, 250cm in East and 500cm in North. 2/3 total rainfall of the year happen at monsoon, it cause prone to flooding.

Popular & Religion:

 138million (estimate in 7/2003); Population Density: 935persons/km. It is the highest population country of the world. Bengali 98%, tribal groups, non-Bengali Muslims. The main religions are Muslim 88% and Hindu 10%, Buddhist 0.6%, Christianity 0.3%.

Language:

 The official language is Bangla and English

Administrative Divisions:

 6 divisions: Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, Barisal, Sylhet. And 64 province. Dhaka is the Capital and also the major commercial city. Chittagong is the second large port other than Dhaka, the main industrial export processing zones also locate in Chittagong.

Brief History:

 Bengali is an ancient, rich historical and cultural past in South Asia. The Region of Bengal had emerged in several times independence countries that the territories beyond the provinces of Bihar and West Bengal of India. In the 16th century, Bengal had become a high population, well developed in economic and cultural city. In the middle of 18th century, Bengal was the center of British colonial rule in whole India area, and became a province of British colony in the late 19th century. In 1947 British declared it would grant full dominion status to two successor states--India and Pakistan, Bengal becomes East Bengal / East Pakistan as part of Pakistan. In 26th Mar. 1971, East Bengal was declared Independency through an armed struggle. In January of 1972, The People's Republic of Bangladesh came into existence.

Economy Overviews:

Bangladesh economy mainly relies on Agriculture and has a sufficient natural resource. Since 1982 the privatization policy is preceded. In recent governments, they stand for market economy, strongly push the privatization policy, attract the foreign investment and establish Bangladesh Export Processing Zones(BEPZ), promote agro-based industry which Jute and Jute Goods is the major export. 2000-2001 industrial sector, GDP is 14.74% in all product, growth up 9.1%, there are mainly jute and jute goods, leathers, garments, cotton textiles and chemical products.

The foreign investment is mainly in Dhaka and Chittagong – two EPZ. The most effective of Export Processing Zones Authority and the customs formalities, the nearest of harbor port are the most ideal investment choosing in Chittagong. Ended up on June1999, 133 factories and US391.8 million dollars investment were there, about US365 million dollars belonged to foreign investment. Half of the products were garments and textiles, others were electronic goods, metals, leathers(included shoes) and plastic goods. The seconds EPZs held by foreign investment was inaugurated on September 1999 in Chittagong, about 250 domestic and foreign factories that is aquatic product, information technology, garments and textiles and optical manufactory etc. On October 1999 the largest EPZs which held by Korean syndicate was opening in river bank of Karnaphuli, garments, mechanics and parts, electronic, and semi-electronic, civil engineering and the others factories would been expected there.