Bangladesh

People

Approximately 98 per cent of Bangladesh's population are ethnic Bengali. Minority groups include Urdu-speaking, non-Bengali Muslims and various tribal groups. About three-quarters of the population live in rural villages. Most Bangladeshis are Muslims, but Hindus constitute a sizable minority. There are also some Buddhists, Christians and Animists.

History

From the 1200s, Bangladesh was under Muslim rule. The region later became part of the Indian state of Bengal, but when India gained independence from Britain in 1947, East Bengal became known as East Pakistan. It was governed from West Pakistan, on the other side of India. Despite their common religion (Islam), the economic, linguistic, cultural and ethnic differences between East and West Pakistan led to a short, but savage, war in 1971. After the war, East Pakistan became the People's Republic of Bangladesh on 16 December 1971.

Geography

Bangladesh has a monsoon climate with seasonal rainfall, warm temperatures and high humidity. Approximately 90 per cent of the land is lower than 10m above sea level, making it vulnerable to cyclones, floods and tsunamis. The monsoon season lasts from late May to early October. The coldest time of year is from mid-October to the end of February, and the hottest from mid-March to May.

Economy

Bangladesh's main resources include its vast labour force, rich agricultural land and substantial reserves of natural gas. Nearly two-thirds of the population is involved in agriculture, with rice being the single-most important product. However, manufacturing and services are also main contributors to the economy. Manufacture of garments accounts for three-quarters of export income; more than 80 per cent of workers in this sector are female. Millions of people seek work in other Muslim countries and send remittances home. However, nearly 40 per cent of the population lives on less than NZ$2 per day. Despite political instability, poor infrastructure and slow implementation of economic reforms, the economy has grown between five to six per cent per year since 1996. During the 2008-09 global financial crisis and recession, Bangladesh's growth remained resilient.

Agriculture

Bangladesh has highly fertile alluvial soils, but agriculture is regularly disrupted by floods and droughts. While farmers are largely reliant on erratic monsoon cycles, there is increasing use of irrigation. Rice and jute are the main crops, with wheat gaining greater importance.

Education

Children begin school from age 6. They must pass each of the five primary school levels for promotion to the next level. High school lasts five years, followed by two years of senior secondary schooling. As the average class size is 60, children receive little personal attention during lessons. Nearly all girls and boys enrol in primary school, but many repeat levels or drop out. Long walking distances to and from school is a concern for some children, while others cannot afford uniforms or study materials.

Health

Over the past 30 years, Bangladesh has made a concerted effort to expand primary healthcare facilities and improve the health of its citizens. However, diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis remain significant threats, as well as malnutrition. More than two million children in Bangladesh are acutely malnourished. Annually, malnourishment is the underlying cause of 35 per cent of child fatalities, with one in 17 children dying before their fifth birthday.

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Bangladesh at a glance

Bangladesh has the highest population density in the world. The country's land area is slightly smaller than the South Island of New Zealand, yet, is home to about 162 million people. A combination of frequent natural disasters, internal political strife and corruption affects the people's struggle to rise above the poverty line.

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