Key Facts

GDP (ppp) per CAPITA

$1,500 (2008 est.)

Inflation Rate

8.9% (2008 est.)

Population

156,050,883 (July 2009 est.)

Country Risk Ratings

C

Ease of Doing Business

110/181

Global Competitiveness

111/134

Country Map

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gE Network

There are 33 members in the
gE Network for this country.

Bangladesh : Introduction

Europeans began to set up trading posts in the area of Bangladesh in the 16th century; eventually the British came to dominate the region and it became part of British India. In 1947, West Pakistan and East Bengal (both primarily Muslim) separated from India (largely Hindu) and jointly became the new country of Pakistan. East Bengal became East Pakistan in 1955, but the awkward arrangement of a two-part country with its territorial units separated by 1,600 km left the Bengalis marginalized and dissatisfied. East Pakistan seceded from its union with West Pakistan in 1971 and was renamed Bangladesh. A military-backed, emergency caretaker regime suspended parliamentary elections planned for January 2007 in an effort to reform the political system and root out corruption. In contrast to the strikes and violent street rallies that had marked Bangladeshi politics in previous years, the parliamentary elections finally held in late December 2008 were mostly peaceful. Sheikh HASINA Wajed was reappointed prime minister. About a third of this extremely poor country floods annually during the monsoon rainy season, hampering economic development.

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Sources:
CIA World Factbook (September 2009)
U.S. Dept. of State Country Background Notes (May 2009)