Bangladesh Today. Strong beliefs and hardships. Economy. Life on the River

Bangladesh is a poor, underdeveloped country. Throughout its short history, it has seen more than its share of civil war, natural disaster, and poverty. The civil war that brought Bangladesh into being left the nation with serious economic, social, and political problems. Because Bangladesh cannot grow or import enough food for its huge population, many Bangladeshis go hungry. Cyclones, tornadoes, tidal waves, and floods occur almost every year. These disasters cause much death and destruction.

Muslim Bangladeshis observe a time of prayer aboard a ferry in the Ganges Delta. Devout Muslims pray five times daily: at dawn, at noon, in the afternoon, in the evening, and at sunset. Nearly 90 per cent of the Bangladeshis are Muslim.

Strong beliefs and hardships. The short and troubled history of Bangladesh has its beginnings when the country was still known as East Pakistan. In 1970, a cyclone and tidal wave struck East Pakistan, killing about 266,000 people. Many of the survivors believed that the West Pakistan government held back on relief shipments. Tensions between East and West Pakistan grew.

In a December 1970 election to select a new assembly, the Awami League, a political party led by East Pakistan's Sheik Mujibur Rahman, won a majority of the seats. The Awami League strongly supported increased self-government for East Pakistan.

When the president of Pakistan postponed the first meeting of the assembly in March 1971, East Pakistan protested. West Pakistan troops were brought in to put down the protest and Sheik Mujibur Rahman (known as Sheik Mujib) was imprisoned in West Pakistan. On March 26, 1971, Bangladesh declared itself an independent nation.

The civil war that followed lasted until December 16. With the help of Indian troops, Bangladesh defeated West Pakistan, but the effects of the civil war were devastating to the new nation. Even as the government set up programs to rebuild the country, floods and food shortages brought more troubles.

Bangladesh is still a long way from solving its problems. Many political, economic, and social issues must be dealt with before life can become better for its people.

Economy. Although the country's warm, humid climate and fertile soil are ideal for farming, crop yields are low. Most Bangladeshi farms cover only about 3-1/2 acres (1.4 hectares), and the farmers use outdated tools and methods.

Jute is the chief export crop of Bangladesh. However, the development of petroleum-based synthetics in the 1960's has reduced worldwide demand for the fiber.

Because the country has few natural resources, its chances for industrial development are limited. Bangladesh also lacks equipment and skilled labor, so industry is confined to the processing of jute and lea. Natural gas deposits supply part of the country's energy requirements and support a small petrochemical industry.

Bangladesh ranks as one of the poorest nations of the world. Its economic future depends on its ability to solve the growing problem of overpopulation.

Life on the River. Bangladesh is a country of rivers and streams. Countless waterways flow across the flat river plain that makes up most of the land. Three major Asian rivers—the Brahmaputra, the Ganges, and the Meghna—unite in Bangladesh to form the great Ganges Delta at the Bay of Bengal.

Bangladesh depends on the rivers for its very existence. Most of the country, which lies only about 50 feet (15 meters) above sea level, would be permanently flooded if the river system did not carry away the water from the monsoon rains and the melting Himalayan snows.

A life-giving force. For the people of Bangladesh, the rivers are both a life-giving force and an instrument of destruction. The soil deposited along their fertile banks creates some of the richest farmland in the world, but when the rivers overflow, the flooding brings death and disaster.

Houses are built on stilts as protection against rising floodwaters, right. Annual monsoon flooding causes great loss of human life, as well as damage to property and communication systems. The government has developed major flood-control projects.

Life in Bangladesh revolves around the rivers. Villagers watch the changing flow of the waters and build their houses on whatever high ground is available. Before the floods arrive, farmers try to guess which areas will be affected, how deep the floods will be, and how long the flooding will last.

The jute harvest, above, provides many Bangladeshis with their only source of income. Jute, a fiber used in making burlap, sacks, mats, rope, and carpet backing, is the chief export of Bangladesh. It grows in the wet delta region.

The names given to the rivers reflect the importance of these waterways in the lives of the people. Khlamati, for example, means fulfiller of desires. Kirtinasha means destroyer of achievements. River themes are common in the tales of the alapanis (storytellers), whoentertain their audiences with a variety of ancient tales.

Major rivers. Bangladesh's major rivers include the Ganges, the Brahmaputra, the Jamuna, and the Meghna.

Fishing boats set off down a river. The nation's waterways contain large supplies of fish, which is an important food source. However, a traditional disrespect for fishermen has slowed the development of a fishing industry.

The 160-mile-long (258-kilometer-long) Ganges River extends from the western border with India to its confluence with the Jamuna River.

The Brahmaputra (son of Brahma) River flows down from India, and where it meets the Tista River, it forms the Jamuna River. No permanent settlements exist along the banks of the Jamuna River. Its violent floods, which do not allow the soil to mature, create a landscape of chars (seasonal islands).

The Meghna River flows from the northeast part of Bangladesh to where it meets the Ganges in south-central Bangladesh.

A map of Bangladesh shows areas likely to be damaged by flooding and areas where floods pose a lesser threat. Few regions are free from risk.