Country information

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Area: 144,000 sq km (55,599 sq miles)
Population: 135 million (2003 estimate)
Capital City: Dhaka, 11 million (2005 estimate)
People: Bengalis (98%), and small numbers of tribes people.
Languages: Bangla, and some tribal languages. English quite widely spoken by those with education.
Religion(s): Islam (89%), Hinduism (10%). Buddhists and Christians make up about 1% of the population
Currency: Taka
Major political parties: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Awami League (AL); Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, Jatiya Party (N) (JPN), Islami Oikya Jote, Islami Jatiya Oikya Front -Jatiya Party (E) (JPE), Islamic Constitution Movement (ICM); Jatiya Party (M) (JPM); Sramik Krishak Janata League.
Government: Bangladesh is a Parliamentary Democracy with a non-executive President elected by Parliament. Parliament and President are both elected for five years. The Government of Bangladesh ended its mandated term in October 2006. A Caretaker Government will hold office until a general election takes place in 2008.
Head of State: President Professor Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed
Chief Advisor of the Caretaker Government: Fakhruddin Ahmed
Membership of international groupings/organisations: Commonwealth, SAARC, UN, Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC).

DID YOU KNOW?

• The Sundarbans in south west Bangladesh is one of the largest Mangrove forests in the world.
• Bangladesh is the most densely populated major country in the world.
• Bangladesh has some of the largest NGOs in the world and has played a major role in developing micro-finance schemes to help poor people.
• Bangladesh instigated the process in the UN that led to the establishment of International Mother Language Day.
• Bangladesh gained its test status in cricket in 2000
• Bangladesh has the 3rd largest Muslim population and the 8th largest overall population in the world.
• The Bengali Tiger is the national animal.

HEALTH

Malaria is not prevalent in Dhaka. It is, however, common in some parts of Bangladesh. There is a risk of dengue fever throughout Bangladesh.

Hygiene and sanitation standards are poor throughout the country and intestinal diseases are common. Drinking water should be boiled and filtered.

The high levels of humidity during certain times of the year and pollution in downtown Dhaka can cause problems.

Local clinics and hospitals are generally of a poor standard. There are no adequate psychiatric services in Bangladesh.

A growing concern for many Bangladeshis is the presence of arsenic in groundwater supplies. The scale of the problem is not yet fully understood, but some people fear that it will be the most significant health problem in Bangladesh in the coming years.

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