Updated February 2, 2021
Bangladesh
Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) is a Muslim-majority
Figure 1. Bangladesh in Brief
nation in South Asia, bordering India and Burma on the
Bay of Bengal. It is the world’s eighth most populous
country, with approximately 165 million people living in a
land area about the size of Iowa. It is a relatively poor
nation suffering from high levels of corruption. In recent
years, its democratic system has faced an array of serious
challenges, including political violence, weak governance,
poverty, demographic and environmental strains, and
Islamist militancy.
Bangladesh is a parliamentary democracy. The ruling
Awami League (AL) and main opposition Bangladesh
Nationalist Party (BNP) dominate national politics. When
in opposition, both parties have at times used
demonstrations, labor strikes, and transport blockades, as
well as the ballot box to regain control of government. AL
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has held office since
2009, won her third consecutive term in December 2018.
The next parliamentary elections are due in 2023. BNP
leader and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was
Source: CIA World Factbook, Economist Intel igence Unit, media.
convicted of graft and embezzlement in 2018 and
assistance and disaster relief, and counterterrorism.” The
imprisoned. She was released for six months in March 2020
due to poor health.
United States also recognizes Bangladesh’s role as one of
the world’s largest contributors of troops to U.N.
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is
peacekeeping operations. The United States is among
Bangladesh’s largest export markets
having a significant impact on Bangladesh. The country’s
and became the fourth-
economy is projected to grow by 5.2% in 2020, down from
largest investor in Bangladesh in 2018, while China
8.2% in 2019, due to increasing unemployment resulting
emerged as the leading foreign investor in Bangladesh.
from the nationwide lockdown implemented to thwart the
Many Members of Congress contend that supporting
spread of COVID-19. Overseas remittances in 2020 have
democracy, rule of law, and human rights in the Indo-
done much to help the economy. Bangladesh reportedly
Pacific region, including in Bangladesh, is critical to
purchased 30 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine and
advancing U.S. interests.
has begun administering vaccinations.
Rohingya
Relations with the United States
Approximately one million ethnic Rohingya facing
The United States has long-standing and supportive
persecution in Burma have fled to Bangladesh, putting
relations with Bangladesh, and generally views Bangladesh
immense pressure on local communities and testing the
as a moderate voice in the Islamic world. In relations with
Dhaka government’s ability to provide adequate security,
Dhaka, recent U.S. Administrations, along with many
food, and sanitation. The predominantly Muslim Rohingya
Members of Congress, have focused on issues relating to
have faced persecution in Buddhist-majority Burma for
Rohingya refugees from Burma, economic development,
years. Burma views the Rohingya as illegal immigrants
humanitarian concerns, labor rights, human rights, good
from Bangladesh. Bangladesh has criticized Burma for
governance, and counterterrorism. The rise of Islamist
failure to take meaningful steps to repatriate the Rohingya.
militancy has been a cause of concern for the United States,
Hopes for repatriation of the Rohingya to Burma were
as it is for Bangladesh’s government. Despite a robust
reportedly further diminished by the February 2021 military
governmental response, terrorist attacks remain a threat to
coup in Burma. Bangladesh began relocating Rohingya
political stability in Bangladesh. The United States and
from existing camps in Bangladesh to Bhashan Char, a low-
Bangladesh hold annual bilateral Partnership Dialogues and
lying remote island in the Bay of Bengal, in December
Security Dialogues, and have developed a cooperative
2020. Bangladesh reportedly plans to relocate 100,000
relationship over the years to meet shared concerns. At the
Rohingya to Bhansar Char. Human rights advocates warn
2019 Partnership Dialogue the two governments
that the isolated island is vulnerable to sea level rise and
“reaffirmed their enduring partnership, highlighting close
storm surges.
cooperation on security, development, humanitarian
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Bangladesh
Human Rights and Religious Freedom
ideology. Both the Islamic State and Al Qaeda in the Indian
Many analysts and policymakers contend that human rights
Subcontinent have been active in Bangladesh. A 2016
and religious freedom are under threat in Bangladesh. In
terrorist attack killed over 20 people at Dhaka’s Holey
2020, the Department of State highlighted a number of
Artisan Bakery. The bakery was a popular site with
concerns, including “unlawful or arbitrary killings; forced
expatriates, and several foreigners were killed, including
disappearance; torture; arbitrary or unlawful detentions by
nine Italians, seven Japanese, one U.S. citizen, and one
the government or on its behalf, [and stated] There were
Indian. Other militant groups, such as Jama’atul
reports of widespread impunity for security force abuses.”
Mujahideen Bangladesh, Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami
There reportedly were an estimated 300 “crossfire” killings,
Bangladesh, and Ansarullah Bangla Team operate in the
a euphemism for extrajudicial killings, in 2019. Security
country. The Bangladesh authorities have reportedly been
forces are rarely held accountable for such deaths. The
largely effective in thwarting the activities of the Islamic
constitution recognizes Islam as the state religion, but
State in Bangladesh since the 2016 Holey Artisan attack.
Bangladesh also officially upholds principles of secularism.
Despite government espousal of tolerance, religious
External Relations
minorities face considerable discrimination and violence.
The Bay of Bengal region has been a focus of China’s Belt
and Road Initiative, which emphasizes infrastructure and
Democracy
energy projects, trade, transit, and other linkages throughout
Bangladesh has long been viewed by observers as a
the region. Bangladesh-China ties improved significantly
democratic, Muslim-majority nation. However, many
following President Xi Jinping’s 2016 visit to Dhaka.
observers called the most recent election a turning point in
During the visit, President Xi and Prime Minister Hasina
Bangladesh’s democracy, with some now arguing that
agreed to upgrade the bilateral relationship to a “strategic
Bangladesh is moving toward, or has already become, a
partnership of cooperation.” Hasina traveled to China in
one-party state. According to Human Rights Watch,
July 2019 to further strengthen bilateral cooperation. Some
authorities have jailed members of the opposition, violated
in India view Bangladesh’s ties with China with concern,
freedom of speech, and suppressed those that are critical of
and consider Chinese “encroachment” in India’s
the ruling Awami League. The State Department’s 2019
neighborhood as a challenge to India’s interests. China has
Country Report on Human Rights Practices described the
become Bangladesh’s primary supplier of military
2018 election as “not considered free and fair and was
equipment, recently including two submarines, maritime
marred by reported irregularities.”
patrol vessels, tanks, and fighter jets. Bangladesh and China
signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement in 2002.
Amnesty International described Bangladesh’s 2018 Digital
Security Act as an “attack on freedom of expression,”
Bangladesh also continues to develop ties with India and
adding that “vague and overly broad provisions of the new
Japan. India and China appear to compete for influence in
law could be used to intimidate and imprison journalists
Bangladesh. India played a key role in Bangladesh’s 1971
and social media users, silence dissent and carry out
“liberation” from Pakistan, and Bangladesh-India relations
invasive forms of surveillance.” Transparency International,
improved after the conclusion of a 2015 Land Boundary
which measures levels of national corruption, ranked
Agreement. Prime Minister Hasina and Indian Prime
Bangladesh 146th out of 180 countries in 2019, and
Minister Narendra Modi moved forward with a number of
Bangladesh dropped to 151st in the World Press Freedom
pacts and projects deepening bilateral cooperation
Index in 2020. Freedom House described Bangladesh as
following Hasina’s visit to New Delhi in October 2019.
“partly free” in its 2020 report.
Modi described Bangladesh as a significant pillar of India’s
“Neighborhood First” policy during a 2020 virtual summit
Demographic and Environmental
with Hasina. Meanwhile, Japan has signed agreements with
Concerns
Bangladesh financing infrastructure projects, including the
Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries,
Jamuna Railway Bridge and a mass transit system in
and many analysts believe that growing demographic
Dhaka. Some observers say Japan may also be seeking to
pressures and environmental problems—including those
counter deepening Chinese influence in the region.
linked to climate change—may result in thousands, perhaps
millions, of people being displaced in coming years.
In 2020, Bangladesh called off the development of what
According to one report, as many as one in seven
would have been its first deep-sea port at Sonadia on the
Bangladeshis may be displaced by climate change. While
Bay of Bengal, a project under consideration since 2006.
World Bank data show that Bangladesh’s population
China had reportedly agreed to build and provide loans for
growth rate has fallen from 3.2% in 1967, it continued to
the port, but India opposed China’s involvement. Instead, a
grow by 1% in 2019. According to some projections,
deep-sea port will now be built at Matarbari, reportedly
Bangladesh’s population will peak at 193 million in 2053.
with Japanese assistance. Such a port could become a
If that does happen, many of these people likely will move
regional trade hub for landlocked Nepal, Bhutan, and
to already overcrowded cities or to neighboring countries,
northeast India. Some observers see the move as reflecting
such as India, leading to further strains on social services
Bangladesh’s desire to balance its relations with external
and, perhaps, regional instability.
partners.
Islamist Extremism
Bruce Vaughn, Specialist in Asian Affairs
The U.S. and Bangladeshi governments see a common
interest in working to counter Islamist extremists and their
IF10214
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Bangladesh
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10214 · VERSION 8 · UPDATED