A quick primer on where I am going:
Geographical location: Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India.
Map Coordinates: 24 00 N, 90 00 E
The total area of the country: 144,000 sq km (slightly smaller than the US state of Iowa).
Formally known as East Pakistan. Gained independence as a country (Victory Day) from Pakistan on December 16, 1971.
Total Country population: 153,546,901 people (roughly half the population of the United States). 7th largest country in the world.
Capital city: Dhaka, population, 11 million people (est.)
Government: Parliamentary democracy. As of January 11, 2007 under a caretaker government system. New elections are to take place before the end of 2008.
Religion: Primarily Islam. Bangladesh, by it's population size, is the fourth largest Muslim country in the world. An exact number is hard to pinpoint but it's estimated that around 110 to a 114 million people living in Bangladesh are Muslims. The majority of these are Sunni with the remainder Shi'a. The rest of the religious make up of the country is that of Buddhists, Christians, and a very small number of Animists.
Climate: Tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October).
Environmental Concerns (according to various consistent sources): Many people in Bangladesh are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land. Water-borne diseases are commonly found in the surface water. Water pollution is also a problem, especially around fishing areas, from the use of commercial pesticides. The countries ground water is also being contaminated by arsenic being released through naturally occurring aquifer conditions. There are also intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country. Soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; and severe overpopulation growth are as well prevalent.
Geopolitics: Member country of the of the D-8: Also known as Developing-8, which is an arrangement for development cooperation among the following countries: Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey. The establishment of D-8 was announced officially through the Istanbul Declaration of Summit of Heads of State/Government on June 15, 1997. The objectives of D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation: "To improve member states' position in the global economy, diversify and create new opportunities in trade relations, enhance participation in decision-making at international level, and improve standards of living."
