High Commission For The People’s Republic Of Bangladesh, Singapore

Bangladesh is a small country with a great potential for industrial advancement and economic growth. With a large domestic market, Bangladesh offers great opportunities for investment. Here is Bangladesh at a glance.



OFFICIAL NAME
The People’s Republic of Bangladesh


GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
It lies between 20° 34’ and 26° 38’ North Latitude and 88° 01’ and 92° 41’ East Longitude1


BOUNDARY
On three sides- East, North and West-India. South-East Myanmar. South-Bay of Bengal


AREA
147,570 sq km


POPULATION
Approximately 141 million


ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS
Country is divided into six Administrative Divisions. These are Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, Barisal and Sylhet. Each Division is divided into districts


TOTAL DISTRICTS
64


CAPITAL
Dhaka


OTHER MAJOR CITIES
Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet & Barisal


GOVERNMENT
Parliamentary form of government. The President is Head of the state, while the government is headed by the Prime Minister


BUSINESS HOURS
The official working hours in Bangladesh are from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm from Sunday to Thursday. Friday and Saturday are weekly holidays


BEST TOURIST SEASON
October - March


PLACES OF TOURIST INTEREST
Dhaka, Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Kaptai, Rangamati, Khagrachari, Bandarban, Kuakata, Bogra, Khulna, the Sundarbans, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Dinajpur and Comilla


LANGUAGE
Bangla-Official Language, English-Second language and widely spoken


LITERACY RATE
67 percent approximate


EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
Public Universities: 18 Private Universities: 36 Colleges: 3,639 Polytechnic Institutes: 27 Medical Colleges: 25 Dental Colleges: 3 Secondary Schools: 21,665 Primary Schools: 78,363


LABOUR FORCE
60.3 million Male: 37.5 million Female: 22.8 million


SECTORAL DISTRIBUTION OF LABOUR FORCE
Agriculture: 62.3 percent Industry: 7.6 percent Others: 30.1percent


RELIGION
4 major religions: Islam, Hinduism, Christianity & Buddhism Muslim: 88 percent of total population


ECONOMY
Unit of Currency: Taka (Tk) (US$ 1 - Appx. 68 Taka) Notes in Circulation: Tk. 500, Tk. 100, Tk. 50, Tk. 20, Tk. 10, Tk. 5, Tk. 2. GDP at Current Price: Tk. 303206 million - US$4380 million per Capita GNI: US$520 Industrial Growth (at FY ’96 Constant Price): 7.3 percent Inflation Rate: 6.1 percent Investment Rate: 24.33 percent of GDP National Savings Rate: 29.15 percent of GDP Exports (US$) in 2006-07: US$ 12,177.86 million


TIME
GMT +6 Hours Seasons: Summer, Monsoon, Autumn, Late Autumn, Winter and Spring Climate: Tropical and moderate Rainfall: 1100mm to 3400mm (June- Aug) Principal Rivers: Padma, Meghna, Jamuna, Karnaphuli, Surma and Brahmaputra Principal Crops: Paddy, Wheat, Jute, Sugarcane, Tobacco and Pulses


PRINCIPAL EXPORTS
Ready made garments, Knitwear, Jute and Jute goods, Shrimps, Leather and Leather goods, Tea, Handicrafts, Agricultural products, Ceramic, Pharmeceuticals, Light Engineering Products, etc.


PRINCIPAL IMPORTS
Petroleum & Lubricants, Chemicals, Cement, Capital Machinery, Machinery parts, Tinned and Bagged Milk powder, Edible oil, Automobiles, electronics etc.


PRINCIPAL INDUSTRIES
Jute, Textile, Leather, Garments, Chemical, Fertilizer, Shrimp Processing, Sugar, Cement, Paper, Pharma, Engineering etc


AIRPORTS
Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Jessore, Rajshahi, Saidpur, Barisal and Cox’s Bazar


RADIO STATIONS
Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet and Rangpur


TELEVISION STATIONS
Dhaka and Chittagong


SATELLITE EARTH STATIONS
Talibabad (Dhaka), Betbunia (Rangamati)