Country Guide • Bangladesh
Bangladesh, on the northern coast of the Bay of Bengal, is surrounded by India. The country is low-lying riverine land traversed by the many branches and tributaries of the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers. Tropical monsoons and frequent floods and cyclones inflict heavy damage in the delta region.
| Official Name | People's Republic of Bangladesh |
|---|---|
| Area | 144,000km² (55,598mile²) |
| Population | 138,448,000 |
| Continent | Asia |
| Population per mile² | 2490 |
| Capital City | Dhaka |
| Religions | Islam 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% |
| Language | Bangla is the official language but English is often spoken too |
| Government | Republic |
| Currency | Taka |
| GDP | $239 billion |
| GDP per Head | $1,700 |
| Natural Resources | Coal, Natural Gas and Timber |
| Land Use | Arable Land 61% |
| Agriculture | Beef, Fruit, Milk, Jute, Potatoes, Pulses, Rice, Spices, Sugarcane, Tea, Tobacco, Wheat |
| Industry | Jute manufacturing, cotton textiles, food processing, steel, fertilizer |
| Tourism | The best time to visit Bangladesh is in the cold season, from October to February, when the weather is dry and fresh. Avoid April when humidity and heat make conditions intolerable. Chittagong, the second largest city of Bangladesh and a busy international seaport, is an ideal vacation spot. Its green hills and forests, its broad sandy beaches and its fine cool climate always attract the holiday-markers |
| Natural Hazards | Cyclones, Droughts and Floods |
| Health Risks | Cholera, dysentery, hepatitis, malaria and meningococcal meningitis |
| Climate | Bangladesh has a tropical monsoon-type climate, with a hot and rainy summer and a dry winter. January is the coolest month with temperatures averaging near 26 deg C (78 d F) and April the warmest with temperatures from 33 to 36 deg C (91 to 96 deg F). The climate is one of the wettest in the world. Most places receive more than 1,525 mm of rain a year, and areas near the hills receive 5,080 mm ). Most rains occur during the monsoon (June-September) and little in winter (November-February) |
| Time | GMT/UTC+6 hours |
| National Days | March 26 |
| Visas | Yes visas are required. Bangladesh visas are valid for six months from the date of issue and are good for stays of one or three months |
| British Embassy | Embassy Details |
Information Only
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