April 24, 2015
Bangladesh
Ongoing political turmoil in Bangladesh has plunged the
Unequal treatment of women, human trafficking, and
nation into a political-security crisis. According to some
violence toward minorities persist as do concerns over
observers, current circumstance has the potential to
worker’s rights abuses and worker safety in Bangladesh.
undermine its democratic government. Analysts point to
Working conditions in Bangladesh received widespread
continued rivalry between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of
international attention in the aftermath of the Rana Plaza
the Awami League (AL) and Khaleda Zia of the
factory collapse that killed over 1,000 workers. Such
Bangladesh National Party (BNP). The BNP is seeking to
factory disasters there have increased global and U.S.
regain power and has held a series of street protests and
concerns about its labor rights regime.
transport blockades demanding that a new election be held
under a caretaker government. Trials against Islamist

leaders for their role in atrocities committed in the 1971 war
of independence are also politically destabilizing as are
Bangladesh in Brief
signs of ongoing Islamist militancy. Numerous
Land area: 130,168 sq kilometers, almost the size of Iowa
demographic and environmental stresses also weaken the
Climate: tropical
nation’s resilience. Some observers believe the military
Geography: Most of the country is low-lying delta
may once again step in.
Resources: Natural gas, arable land, timber, coal
Background
Natural hazards: droughts, cyclones, extensive flooding
Ethnicity: 98% Bengali
Bangladesh (the former East Pakistan) is a Muslim-majority
nation in South Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal,
Religion: 89.5% Muslim, 9.6% Hindu
dominated by low-lying riparian zones. It is the world’s
Population: 166 million with 1.6% growth 2014 est.
eighth-largest country by population, with over 160 million
Life expectancy: 71 years 2014 est.
people housed in a land mass about the size of Iowa.
GDP per capita: $3,400 2014 est.
Bangladesh is under threat from a combination of political
GDP growth: 6.3% 2015 est.
violence, corruption, weak governance, poverty,
GDP by sector: Agriculture 15.1%, industry 26.5%, services
demographic and environmental stress, and Islamist
58.3% 2014 est.
militancy. There is concern that influence of Islamist
Population below the poverty line: 31.5% 2010 est.
extremists could increase despite their being vigorously
Sources: State Department, CIA World Factbook,
pursued by Bangladesh authorities.
Economist intelligence Unit.
The Bangladesh National Party and the Awami League
dominate Bangladeshi politics. When in opposition, both
Current Situation
parties have sought to regain control of the government by
bringing pressure through demonstrations, labor strikes, and
Bangladesh again appears to some observers to be entering
transport blockades. The current Hasina AL government
a period of increased political instability that could further
came to power in 2009 with an strong majority in
erode democracy in the country and create opportunities for
parliament. It has moved forward with a war crimes tribunal
Islamists if there is a breakdown in order. Some observers
to prosecute atrocities from the 1971 war of independence
believe a breakdown in order resulting from the ongoing
from Pakistan.
political impasse could also lead the military again to
intervene. Violence on the street appears to be escalating.
Demographic pressure and environmental problems, which
The State Department is “gravely concerned” by the
experts say are likely exacerbated by climate change,
ongoing unrest.
increasingly are problems for Bangladesh. A growing
population, when combined with limited economic
A number of BNP and Islamist Jamaat-i-Islami Party
resilience and constraints on the extent to which agricultural
leaders have been arrested under the International Crimes
output can be expanded, could prove to be challenging in
Tribunals (ICT) Act and accused of war crimes dating back
the future. There are questions regarding Bangladesh’s
to Bangladesh’s war of independence from Pakistan in
future food security. Despite self-sufficiency in rice,
1971. While accounts differ widely, there is general
Bangladesh has an overall food deficit and is reportedly
consensus that approximately one million people died
losing up to 1% of its arable land each year due to climate
during the 1971 war that was fought between independence
change and urbanization.
forces in then-East Pakistan, with assistance from India, and
the Pakistani army that was largely composed of troops
from then-West Pakistan but had some support from within
www.crs.gov | 7-5700

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Bangladesh
East Pakistan. The BNP and Jamaat have opposed the
Islamist Militancy
ongoing trials and view them as a move by the AL to
further consolidate its political advantage. The U.S.
There are signs that transnational terror networks with
government supports “bringing to justice those who
connections in Bangladesh remain. An accidental bomb
committed atrocities in the 1971 Bangladesh War of
explosion in the Burdwan District of West Bengal India on
Independence” and believes that the ICT process “must be
October 2, 2014, killed two members of Jamaat Mujahideen
fair and transparent.”
Bangladesh (JMB) and wounded another. Members of JMB
reportedly have been infiltrating from Bangladesh into
Bangladesh-U.S. Relations
border districts in India to make contact with sympathizers
in several madrasas where they have allegedly been
The United States has long-standing supportive relations
engaged in recruitment and fundraising activities. JMB also
with Bangladesh and views Bangladesh as a moderate voice
reportedly sought to recruit 150 men to carry out attacks
in the Islamic world. Washington provides economic
and sent approximately 50 improvised explosives to Dhaka
assistance to Dhaka and engages Bangladesh through an
and Assam before the Burdwan explosion led police to the
annual Partnership Dialogue, and on security matters
house where they found the wives of two of the JMB
through an annual Security Dialogue. U.S. interests in
operatives. Literature recovered by police at the house
Bangladesh are rooted in its being a secular and pluralist
reportedly links the group with Al Qaeda.
democracy and its status as a moderate Muslim-majority
nation that makes a contribution to counterterrorism as well
Bangladesh in a Regional Context
as regional and global security. The Bangladesh-U.S.
Partnership Dialogue seeks to improve the ties between the
Positioned at a geopolitically important intersection
two nations through cooperation in a number of areas.
between South Asia, China, and Southeast Asia,
Bangladesh is a nation of strategic importance not only to
Bangladesh and the United States see a common interest in
the South Asian sub-region but the larger geopolitical
working to counter extremist Islamists and their ideology.
context of Asia as a whole. Bangladesh is. Bangladesh’s
The two countries signed an October 2013
foreign policy seeks to promote trade and economic
Counterterrorism Cooperation Initiative. The United States
development. It is a member of the Organization of Islamic
and Bangladesh also share an interest in supporting
Cooperation (OIC) and values close ties with Muslim states
international peacekeeping operations. As part of its
while remaining a relatively moderate nation. It is a
commitment to strengthen Bangladesh’s maritime security
member of the South Asia Association for Regional
capabilities in the Bay of Bengal the U.S. transferred the
Cooperation (SAARC) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for
U.S. Coast Guard cutter Jarvis to Bangladesh in October
Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation
2013.
(BIMSTEC).
The third U.S.-Bangladesh Dialogue on Security Issues was
Under the AL, Bangladesh is seeking to develop closer ties
held on April 22, 2015. Issues discussed included “maritime
with India and China on a range of issues. The prospect for
security, counterterrorism, disaster risk management,
political tensions with India remains over illegal
peacekeeping, law enforcement, nonproliferation, joint
immigration to India from Bangladesh and over the sharing
military exercises and exchanges and other security issues.”
of cross border water resources. By some estimates, there
Following the dialogue Principal Deputy Assistant
are as many as 10 million-20 million illegal Bangladeshi
Secretary Thomas Kelly stated “... we see Bangladesh as a
immigrants in India. During a meeting with Prime Minister
regional model in terms of counterterror cooperation.”
Modi in 2014, Sheikh Hasina emphasized that Bangladesh
would not be used as a base for extremism.
U.S. Foreign Assistance
($s in thousands)
Some Bangladeshi commentators believe that the nation
should pursue closer ties to China. China also reportedly
FY2014
FY2015
FY2016
has plans to help Bangladesh build a deep sea port at

Actual
est.
Request
Sonadia near Cox’s Bazar. The opening of Burma holds the
DA 81,578
*
92,923
prospect of further connectivity between South Asia and
Southeast Asia. China has become involved in other large
FMF 2,500
*
2,000
scale development projects in Bangladesh such as the
GH 79,500
*
71,200
Padma Multi-purpose Bridge, which is one of Bangladesh’s
IMET 996
*
1,500
largest infrastructure projects.
INCLE 2,600
*
2,000
Bruce Vaughn, bvaughn@crs.loc.gov, 7-3144
NADR 3,350
*
3,260

PL 480
34,527
*
36,000
IF10214
Total 205,051
*
208,883
Source: U.S. State Department, “Bangladesh,” Budget Justification
Foreign Operations, Annex: Regional Perspectives, 2014, 2015.
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