Yearbook 2000
Bangladesh. In June, the opposition canceled a eleven-month boycott of Parliament’s work in order not to risk being excluded from the People’s Assembly. The long-standing confrontation between the political blocs continued with extra-parliamentary methods. A long series of short strikes, announced in protest against government’s economic policy, paralyzing Dhaka and other major cities at regular intervals. The aim of the actions was to force new elections, which was unsuccessful. Regular parliamentary elections will be held around mid-2001.
Former military dictator Hussain Mohammad Ershad, released from prison in 1997, was re-convicted of corruption and sentenced to five years in prison and fined. Waiting for the verdict to gain legal force, he had to retain his seat in Parliament.
Severe floods hit Bangladesh in the fall. The disaster was estimated to be the worst in 20 years, and at least two million people became homeless. Hundreds of people were killed. Agriculture and road networks were badly damaged. The government accused India of making the situation worse by opening dustbins.
- ABBREVIATIONFINDER: Offers three letter and two letter abbreviations for the country of Bangladesh. Also covers country profile such as geography, society and economy.
Pollution
But the natural disasters are not the only ones to hit Bangladesh. The Asian Development Bank granted $ 5 million in aid to combat rising pollution in the country. The discharge from oil tankers and untreated wastewater from the industries affects the ecosystem of the coastal area. The Khulna district is one of the world’s most polluted areas. As a result of the pollution, forests worth $ 110 million have been destroyed and experts estimate that most animal species in the sea will soon be eradicated. About 1½ million fishermen still have to go farther out to sea to get a proper catch. Fisheries account for 6% of the country’s GDP and exports exceed $ 150 million a year, but if pollution is not reduced, this industry will be drastically affected. Industrial pollution originates from approx. 1000 industries,unemployment.
Foreign aid
Bangladesh is still heavily dependent on foreign aid – 95% of development programs are financed abroad. Its major contributors – the United States, Japan and the Asian Development Bank, ADB – contributed $ 2.1 billion in 1991. An increase of 10 million compared to the previous year. Since the 1970s, Bangladesh has also been one of the main goals of Danish development assistance.
The same year in December, the government declared war on smuggling. It is a huge business involving financial institutions, newlyweds, politicians and corrupt officials. The population of Bangladesh has an annual average income of US $ 170. Half the population lives in clay huts without sanitary conditions. The toilet has to be shared on average between 50 families. More than 3 million live in fast-growing slums.
In 1994, the author Taslima Nasrin became famous when she published the book “Shame” condemning the oppression that the Muslims believe she exerts over Hindus and other minorities. Nasrin was detained when she claimed that Islamic law gives women more rights. It was made as a criticism of the Qur’an.
Population 2000
According to COUNTRYAAH, the population of Bangladesh in 2000 was 127,657,743, ranking number 8 in the world. The population growth rate was 2.080% yearly, and the population density was 980.7010 people per km2.
