1、Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebBANGLADESH IN BRIEFPopulation: 133 million (2002 est.)growth rate: 1.6% (2002 est.)Area: 147,570 sq. km. (slightly smaller than Iowa)Capital: DhakaEthnic Groups: Bengali 98%; tribal less than 1 m
2、illionLanguage: Bengali (official); English widely usedReligion: Muslim 83%; Hindu 16%; other 1%Life Expectancy at Birth: female 60.7 years; male61.1 years (2002 est.)Literacy: female 49%; male 63% (2000 est.)Inflation: 3% (2002 est.)Gross Domestic Product: $47 billion; per capita:$370; growth rate:
3、 4.4% (year ending June 2002)U.S. Trade: exports to U.S. $2.02 billion; imports fromU.S. $248 million (2002)Sources: CIA World Factbook; Reuters; U.S. Departments of Stateand Commerce; World Bank. Order Code RS20489Updated January 30, 2003Bangladesh: Background and U.S. RelationsK. Alan KronstadtAna
4、lyst in Asian AffairsForeign Affairs, Defense, and Trade DivisionSummaryBangladesh (the former East Pakistan) gained its independence in 1971, followingIndias intervention in a rebellion against repression by the West Pakistani-dominatedcivil service and army. Democratic elections, in 1991, 1996, an