Bangladesh

IN 1971, AFTER the liberation war, East Pakistan seceded from its union with West Pakistan and became a new nation, Bangladesh. The new government of this poor country faced the problem of massive rehabilitation and reconstruction in a war-ravaged economy. The Human Development Index (HDI) was 0.336 in 1974. There are annual floods during the monsoon season, affecting about one-third of the country. There are also frequent cyclones. The famine in 1974 raised food prices and severely hit the agricultural laborers because of crop failure. A sustained economic growth was not possible due to the tardy pace of economic reforms, corruption, and an apathetic bureaucracy. Obsolete legal systems, a weak civil society, lack of opportunities for women, unemployment, an inefficient public sector, and an inadequate power supply have been impediments to economic growth.

Bangladesh is an overpopulated nation with 144,319,628 persons (2005). The birth and death rates are 30.01 and 8.4, respectively, per 1,000 inhabitants. The Gross Domestic Product in terms of real growth is 4.9 percent by a 2004 estimate. The unemployment rate in Bangladesh is 40 percent from figures of the same year. Its Gross National Income (GNI) per capita was $735 in 2002. About 45 percent of the population live below the poverty line per a 2004 estimate. The agricultural sector employs about two-thirds of the population.

In spite of heavy odds, there have been sincere efforts from different quarters like the government, international organizations, and many nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to alleviate poverty in Bangladesh. But much more is to be done. In the mid-2000s, the growth rate has been five percent. The per capita income is rising along with a declining trend in poverty. Whereas the “headcount” ratio of poverty was 58.8 percent in 1991–92, it decreased to 49.8 in 2000–01. But the reduction rate is slow and it will take about 50 years to attain a zero poverty line at this rate.

The absolute number of poor people is increasing, with about 65 million in 2000–01. It is enshrined in the constitution of Bangladesh that it is the duty of the state to guarantee food security for its people. Although grain production had doubled in the last 15 years, population growth has neutralized this advantage. There were reports of starvation in some pockets of northern Bangladesh in 2004. Although the government is taking steps toward a better distribution system, more has to be achieved. Infectious diseases, malnutrition, and infant mortality have affected the country in a substantial way.

A disorganized and poor healthcare system impacts the deprived sections of society in both urban and rural [Page 64]regions. The government is trying to revamp the public health system in so that the poor will have access to it, since they cannot afford the high cost of private medical services. The women belonging to marginalized groups suffer more with a high infant mortality rate, and neglected care of mothers during pregnancies. It has been reported that there are about 26,000 casualties per year for pregnant women. A perennial problem for underdeveloped countries is access to safe drinking water. Presently, about 95.44 percent of the population of Bangladesh have access to it. Facilities regarding sanitation have increased from 21 percent in 1990 to 43.4 percent in the beginning of this century.

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