Updated June 20, 2023
Bangladesh
Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) is a Muslim-majority
finds to be undermining Bangladesh’s democratic election
South Asian nation bordering India and Burma (Myanmar)
process ahead of scheduled 2024 voting.
on the Bay of Bengal. The world’s eighth most populous
country, with approximately 167 million people, it has a
The United States and Bangladesh hold annual bilateral
land area about the size of Iowa. Its democratic system has
Partnership Dialogues and Security Dialogues, and have
faced many serious challenges, including political violence,
developed a cooperative security relationship to meet
weak governance, corruption, poverty, demographic and
shared concerns, including violent extremism and regional
environmental strains, and Islamist militancy. The United
security. As part of these dialogues, the two governments
States and Bangladesh have partnered on various issues and
have agreed to work closely together for a shared vision of
worked together to promote shared interests in South Asia
a free, open, inclusive, and peaceful, Indo-Pacific.
and the Indo-Pacific region.
Figure 1. Bangladesh in Brief
Bangladesh is a parliamentary democracy that conducts
regular elections, though there are increasing concerns that
it is backsliding toward a one-party, hybrid regime that
includes elements of authoritarianism and democracy. The
ruling Awami League (AL), the party of Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina, increasingly dominates national politics.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has been the main
opposition party. In opposition, both parties have at times
used demonstrations, labor strikes, and transport blockades,
as well as the ballot box, to regain government control.
Prime Minister Hasina, in office since 2009, won her third
consecutive term in December 2018. During that election,
observers reported vote rigging, voter intimidation, and
mass arrests of opposition activists. The next parliamentary
elections are scheduled for January 2024.
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) projects
Bangladesh’s economic growth rate will rise from an
estimated 5.5% in 2022/2023 to 5.9% in 2023/2024.

Readymade garments accounted for 85% of Bangladesh’s
Sources: Economist Intel igence Unit, World Bank, Asian
exports in 2022. The EIU expects Bangladesh’s export
Development Bank, State Department, Census Bureau, World Atlas.
growth to decelerate due to slowing consumer spending in
Europe and the United States. The World Bank reports the
Rohingya
agriculture sector’s share of total employment in
The predominantly Muslim Rohingya have faced
Bangladesh declined steadily over the past decade; it is no
persecution in Buddhist-majority Burma for years. The
longer the country’s largest employment sector. Agriculture
Burmese government has denied them citizenship and
accounted for 37% of total employment in 2021, overtaken
treated them as illegal immigrants. In FY2022, the United
by the service sector’s 41%. The World Bank reported
States provided $265 million in humanitarian assistance for
remittances to Bangladesh of $21.5 billion in 2022.
Rohingya refugees from Burma, including in host
Relations with the United States
communities in Bangladesh. The State Department
announced an additional $26 million in assistance in March
The United States has long-standing relations with
2023. Total U.S. assistance for the Rohingya since August
Bangladesh, and is among its largest export markets and
2017 is now almost $2.1 billion. Approximately one million
sources of foreign investment. The Obama, Trump, and
Rohingya currently reside in Bangladesh, testing the
Biden Administrations, and many Members of Congress,
government’s ability to provide adequate security, food,
have focused on issues relating to Rohingya refugees from
and sanitation. Bangladesh officials have criticized Burma
Burma, democracy, good governance, economic
for its failure to take steps to repatriate the Rohingya.
development, humanitarian concerns, labor rights, human
Bangladesh began relocating Rohingya from existing camps
rights, and counterterrorism. Some Members contend that
in Bangladesh to Bhashan Char, a remote island in the Bay
supporting democracy, rule of law, and human rights,
of Bengal, in December 2020, despite warnings that the
including in Bangladesh, is critical to advancing U.S.
island is vulnerable to sea level rise and storm surges. Press
interests. The State Department announced in May 2023
reports estimate that roughly 30,000 Rohingya refugees had
that it will restrict visa issuance for any Bangladeshis it
been relocated to the island as of January 2023.
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Bangladesh
Human Rights and Religious Freedom
Qaeda have been active in Bangladesh. A 2016 terrorist
Some analysts and policymakers contend that human rights
attack by IS-aligned militants killed over 20 people in
and religious freedom are under threat in Bangladesh. The
Dhaka; fatalities included one American, along with several
State Department’s 2022 Country Report on Human Rights
other foreigners. Other militant groups, such as the
Practices: Bangladesh highlights a number of concerns,
suspected IS-aligned Neo-Jama’atul Mujahideen
including “unlawful or arbitrary killings, including
Bangladesh, have also been active. Bangladesh authorities
extrajudicial killings; forced disappearance[s]; torture or
have been largely effective in thwarting IS militants since
cases of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or
the 2016 attack, the State Department assesses.
punishment by the government.” It also noted reports of
extrajudicial “crossfire” killings in 2022. Security forces are
External Relations
rarely held accountable for such deaths. The constitution
Positioned at the intersection of India, China, Southeast
recognizes Islam as the state religion, but also officially
Asia, and the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh occupies a geo-
upholds secular principles. Despite the government’s public
strategically important location, and its foreign policy seeks
espousal of tolerance, religious minorities face
to promote trade, economic development, and diplomatic
discrimination and violence. The State Department notes
linkages with a range of countries. In February 2023,
widespread communal violence against Hindu, Christian,
Bangladesh abstained from a U.N. General Assembly vote
and Buddhist religious minorities in Bangladesh.
on a resolution reprimanding Russia for invading Ukraine.
Democracy
The Bay of Bengal region is a focus of China’s Belt and
Observers had long categorized Bangladesh as a democratic
Road Initiative, which emphasizes global infrastructure,
nation. However, some analysts now argue that Bangladesh
energy projects, trade, transit, and other linkages. China
is approaching, or has already become, a one-party state.
also has become Bangladesh’s primary supplier of military
The 2018 election, in which Sheikh Hasina won her most
equipment, including two submarines, maritime patrol
recent five-year term, was “not considered free and fair by
vessels, tanks, and fighter jets. By one estimate, China
observers,” the State Department reports. Freedom House
supplied approximately 74% of Bangladesh’s weapons
assesses that AL has consolidated political power through
between 2010 and 2020. Bangladesh-China ties expanded
harassment of the opposition and its perceived allies, as
significantly following President Xi Jinping’s 2016 visit to
well as of critical media and civil society voices. According
Dhaka, where President Xi and Prime Minister Hasina
to Human Rights Watch, authorities have jailed opposition
agreed to upgrade the bilateral relationship to a “strategic
members, violated freedom of speech, and suppressed AL
partnership of cooperation.” Prime Minister Hasina traveled
critics. Transparency International, which measures levels
to China in 2019 to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.
of national corruption, ranked Bangladesh 147th of 180
countries in 2022; Bangladesh dropped to 163rd of 180
Some Indian officials express concern that Bangladesh’s
countries in Reporters Without Borders’ 2023 World Press
growing engagement with China could impact the close
Freedom Index. Freedom House designates Bangladesh as
Bangladesh-India relationship. Some consider China’s
“partly free.” Following the announcement of new U.S. visa
“encroachment” in India’s neighborhood as a challenge to
restrictions, Dhaka promised the 2024 elections will be free
Indian interests. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
and fair. Some observers remain concerned about
described Bangladesh as a significant pillar of India’s
democratic backsliding in Bangladesh.
“Neighborhood First” policy during a 2020 virtual summit
with Hasina. In 2020, Bangladesh halted development of
Demographic and Environmental
what would have been its first deep-sea port at Sonadia
Concerns
after India opposed China’s involvement. Bangladesh and
Bangladesh is one of the world’s most densely populated
India continue to maintain close relations, and Prime
countries, and some analysts assess that growing
Ministers Hasina and Modi signed several Memoranda of
demographic pressures and environmental problems may
Understanding in New Delhi in September 2022.
result in millions of displacements. The World Health
Organization estimates that climate change may displace as
Bangladesh and Japan also have been developing closer
many as one in seven Bangladeshis. World Bank data show
relations, with Japanese financing of infrastructure projects
that Bangladesh’s population growth rate has slowed from
in Bangladesh. In August 2022, the Japan International
an annual rate high of 3% in 1967 to 1.1% in 2021. Some
Cooperation Agency signed an investment agreement with
projections indicate the population will peak at 193 million
Bangladesh SEZ Ltd. to establish a Special Economic Zone
in 2053. If that happens, observers suggest many nationals
Development Project. Japan is assisting with the
may migrate to already-overcrowded cities or to
construction of a deep-water port at Matabari. Some experts
neighboring countries, such as India, straining social
see developing ties with Japan as reflecting Bangladesh’s
services and, perhaps, contributing to regional instability.
desire to balance its relations with external partners.
Islamist Extremism
This In Focus updates an earlier version written by former
The U.S. government generally views Bangladesh as a
CRS Specialist Bruce Vaughn.
moderate voice in the Islamic world, but the emergence of
some Islamist militancy in the country has concerned the
Joseph O. Yinusa, Research Assistant
governments of both the United States and Bangladesh.
Maria A. Blackwood, Analyst in Asian Policy
Both governments identify a common interest in countering
Islamist extremists. Both the Islamic State (IS) and Al
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Bangladesh


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