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An overview of Bangladesh
Government and Politics
Geography
Economy of Bangladesh
Climate of Bangladesh
HISTORY of Bangladesh
Islam in Bangladesh
Factfile
PeopleFactfilePeople
Personal Profile|
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| Economy of Bangladesh |
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Much natural gas and some petroleum have been discovered in Bangladesh. The country also has small deposits of coal, limestone, and peat. Agriculture dominates the economy. It accounts for about 50 per cent of the gross domestic product (the value of all production in Bangladesh), it employs about 75 per cent of all workers, and it accounts for about 80 per cent of the country's export earnings. The total area under crops is nearly 130,000 square kilometres. Rice accounts for 80 per cent of the land used for crops. Farmers harvest three crops of rice in most years. Bangladesh ranks among the leading rice-growing countries. Jute, a plant whose fibres are made into string or woven into cloth, grows on 6 per cent of the country's farmland. Wheat occupies 4 per cent of the farmland, while other crops, including oilseeds, pulses, sugar cane, tea, and vegetables, account for the other 10 per cent. Much high-quality tea is exported. Many farmers in Bangladesh raise livestock. Most of the animals are undernourished, and the cattle do not produce much milk. But the large number of livestock make Bangladesh a leading supplier of animal hides and skins. Manufacturing. Bangladesh has few large factories, and most of them process agricultural products. The country is too poor to import the large quantities of raw materials needed for heavy industries. The processing of jute ranks as the chief industry of Bangladesh. Factories spin the raw jute fibres into string and rope, which then may be woven into burlap or other materials. Bangladesh also manufactures leather, matches, paper and paper products, and textiles. Many Bangladeshis work in their homes making items that are sold in shops or exported. Some craftworkers weave cotton, jute, or silk into cloth. Others make embroidered items; leather goods; pottery; woodenware; and articles of brass, copper, gold, or silver. Fishing industry. Fish thrive in the many inland waterways of Bangladesh and in the coastal waters of the Bay of Bengal. The people catch large quantities of fish for their own use. Shrimps and prawns from the Bay of Bengal have become valuable exports. Foreign trade. Jute is the main export of Bangladesh. The country also exports fish, leather, and tea. Leading imports include building materials, chemicals, coal, electrical appliances, food and food products, machinery, petroleum, textiles, and transportation equipment. Transportation. Waterways serve as the chief transportation routes in Bangladesh. The country has about 7,240 kilometres of navigable waterways. Passenger and cargo ships make regular trips on the major rivers between the largest cities and towns. The people also use canoes and small wooden boats for transportation. Chittagong is the country's chief seaport. Major river ports include Barisal, Chalna Port, Chandpur, Dhaka, and Narayanganj. Roadbuilding is difficult and expensive in Bangladesh because of the need for bridges across the numerous rivers and streams. Many of the country's roads and railways become unusable during the monsoon season, when heavy flooding occurs. Bangladesh has about 5,800 kilometres of paved roads and about 2,900 kilometres of railway lines. An international airport handles flights to and from Dhaka. Communication. Bangladesh has both Bengali and English-language newspapers. The government owns the country's six radio stations and one television station, and the telegraph and telephone systems. Few homes in rural areas have telephones or radios. Villagers may gather in cafes or other public places to listen to radio-broadcasts. Only a small number of families can afford a TV set. |
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