Economy of Bangladesh. Description

Bangladesh ranks as one of the poorest nations of the world. It has an average annual per capita (per person) income of about $200 a year.

Bangladesh has a developing economy. The country depends heavily on agriculture. It has few natural resources. However, industry is growing rapidly in the country, especially the manufacture of clothing and textiles.

The civil war of 1971 caused a serious breakdown of the economy. Farming activities were interrupted as millions of people fled their homes to escape the fighting. Factories and shops were destroyed, and transportation and communication lines were damaged. Shortly after Bangladesh became independent, the government took control of the chief businesses and industries. Many of these establishments had been owned by West Pakistanis before the civil war.

Natural resources. Fertile soil is probably the chief natural resource of Bangladesh. Farmers in almost all parts of the country grow jute, rice, sugar cane, tobacco, and wheat in the rich, wet soil.

Much natural gas and some petroleum have been discovered in Bangladesh. The country also has small deposits of coal, limestone, and peat.

Agriculture is by far the most important economic activity in Bangladesh. About two-thirds of the people farm the land. Even so, Bangladesh does not produce enough food for its large population. One main reason is that most farmers in Bangladesh use outdated tools and methods. The nation's farms cover an average of only about 3 ½ acres (1.4 hectares).

Rice, the chief crop, grows in almost all parts of Bangladesh. Farmers harvest three crops of rice in most years. Bangladesh ranks among the world's leading rice-growing countries. Jute, a plant whose fibers are made into string or woven into cloth, is Bangladesh's chief export crop. Bangladesh produces more jute than any other country. Wheat is another major crop in Bangladesh. Farmers also grow sugar cane, tea, and tobacco.

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. Many modern factories in Bangladesh make clothing, the country's leading manufactured product. Other factories produce agricultural equipment, leather goods, matches, paper, and textiles. Many factories process jute by spinning the raw fibers into string and rope, which may then be woven into burlap or other materials. Bangladesh is too poor to import large quantities of raw materials.

Many Bangladeshis work in their homes making items that are sold in shops or exported. Some craft-workers weave cotton, jute, or silk into cloth. Others make embroidered items, leather goods, pottery, and woodenware. Still others make articles of brass, copper, gold, or silver.

The processing of jute is an important industry of Bangladesh. Workers in a jute mill spread the plant fibers outdoors to dry before spinning them into string or rope

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 and for export.

Foreign trade. Clothing is the main export of Bangladesh. It accounts for more than half of the country's export income. Bangladesh also exports fish, jute, leather, and tea. Leading imports of Bangladesh include building materials, chemicals, coal, electric 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 4,500 miles (7,200 kilometers) 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. Chattagram is the nation's chief seaport. Major river ports include Barisal, Chalna Port, Chandpur, Dhaka, and Narayanganj.

Road building is difficult and expensive in Bangladesh because of the need to construct bridges across the country's numerous rivers and streams. Many of the country's roads and railroads become unusable during the monsoon season, when heavy flooding occurs. Bangladesh has about 3,600 miles (5,800 kilometers) of paved roads and approximately 1,800 miles (2,900 kilometers) of railroad track. An international airport handles flights to and from Dhaka.

Communication. Bangladesh has both Bengali and English-language newspapers. The government owns the nation's nine 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.