Bangladesh: Background and U.S. Relations

^Pr^ep^ar^{ed f}^o^r^M^e^m^b^ers^an^d^Com^mⁱ^t^t^ees^of^C^ong^r^e^ss

Bangladesh (the former East Pakistan) gained its independence in 1971, following India’s
intervention in a rebellion against West Pakistan (currently called Pakistan). Democratic elections
in 1991 ended two decades of authoritarian rule in Dhaka. The Bangladesh National Party (BNP),
which led the ruling coalition of the previous government, and the leading opposition party, the
Awami League (AL), traditionally have dominated Bangladeshi politics. The BNP is led by
former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia while the AL is led by Sheikh Hasina. Bangladesh has been a
largely moderate and democratic majority Muslim country. This status has been under threat from
a combination of political violence, weak governance, poverty, corruption, and Islamist militancy.
When in opposition, both parties have sought to regain control of the government through
demonstrations, labor strikes, and transport blockades.
Bangladesh is now ruled by a military-backed caretaker government led by Fakhruddin Ahmed
that appears unlikely to relinquish power in the near term. It is pursuing an anti-corruption drive
that could overturn the normal political elites. It is also seeking to put in place voter reforms,
including issuing identity cards, and has moved against militant Islamists. While there has been
concern that the new military-backed caretaker government would be reluctant to relinquish
power, it has presented a roadmap for new elections and a return to democracy in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is one of the poorest and most corrupt countries of the world. The largely agricultural
economy suffers frequent and serious setbacks from cyclones and floods. While economic
progress has been made, it has been impaired by rivalry between the two largest political parties.
Bangladesh is thought to have large reserves of natural gas.
Political violence has become part of the political landscape in Bangladesh. A.M.S. Kibria, a
finance minister in a previous Awami League government, and four others were killed in a bomb
attack that also injured 70 at a political rally of the Awami League on January 27, 2005. On
August 21, 2004, an apparent political assassination attempt on opposition leader Sheikh Hasina
at a political rally in Dhaka killed 22. These two attacks, and widespread bombings on August 17,
2005, that claimed 26 lives and injured dozens others, are the most notable incidents among many
in recent years.
U.S. policy toward Bangladesh emphasizes support for political stability and democracy;
development; and human rights. The United States has long-standing supportive relations with
Bangladesh and has viewed Bangladesh as a moderate voice in the Islamic world. Some analysts
are concerned that Islamist parties have gained influence through the political process and that
this has created space for militant activities inside the country. Some allege that the presence in
the former ruling Bangladesh National Party (BNP) coalition government of two Islamist parties,
the Islamiya Okiyya Jote (IOJ) and the Jamaat-e-Islami, contributed to the expansion of Islamist
influence in Bangladesh.

Recent Developments......................................................................................................................1
Zia, Hasina, Ershad and the Future Political Landscape...........................................................2
The Islamists.............................................................................................................................2
Political Context........................................................................................................................3
U.S.-Bangladesh Relations..............................................................................................................4
Government and Politics.................................................................................................................7
Corrupt ion ..................................................................................................................... ............ 8
Terrorism and Islamist Extremism in Bangladesh...........................................................................8
Political Ties to Terrorist Organizations....................................................................................8
Bangladesh’s Connection to Bombings in India......................................................................11
Economics, Trade, and Development.............................................................................................11
Environmental Issues....................................................................................................................12
Human Rights and Religious Freedom..........................................................................................13
Foreign Relations..........................................................................................................................14
Figure 1. Map of Bangladesh........................................................................................................15
Table 1. U.S. Assistance to Bangladesh, 2003-2007.......................................................................5
Author Contact Information..........................................................................................................15

Emergency rule by a military-backed caretaker government, currently headed by Fakhruddin
Ahmed, is likely to continue through 2007 and into 2008. Under a unique set of rules, the
government in Bangladesh is to hand over power to a caretaker government in the months
immediately preceding national elections. The Bangladesh National Party did this in 2006 in the
lead up to the scheduled January 2007 election. The current political situation came about after
emergency rule was declared by President Iajuddin Ahmed following protests and strikes by
opposition parties in the lead up to the January 2007 elections. This led to the installation of the
present military-backed caretaker government.
The Awami League (AL), which was in opposition to the previous Bangladesh National Party
(BNP) government, protested irregularities in the voter list in the lead up to the election that was
scheduled for January 2007. These irregularities were independently confirmed by the National
Democratic Institute (NDI):
^T^h^{e [}^NDI^]^d^e^leg^a^tioⁿⁱ^s^d^eep^ly^coⁿ^cerⁿ^e^d^th^a^t^t^h^eⁿ^e^w^Vo^te^r^s^’^Lⁱ^{st r}^uⁿ^s^to^o^v^er⁹³^m^illioⁿ
ⁿ^a^m^e^s^,^{a s}ⁱ^{ze t}^h^{at is}^s^u^bs^taⁿ^tⁱ^a^ll^yⁱⁿ^con^s^is^teⁿ^t^wⁱ^t^h^t^h^{e 200}^{1 cen}^s^u^s^{data. A}^Voters^’^Lⁱ^s^t
^co^ntainiⁿ^g^t^w^o^-^t^h^ir^d^s^o^f^t^h^{e p}^o^p^u^latio^{n str}^aⁱⁿ^{s cr}^ed^ib^ilit^y^{... o}ⁿ^{the b}^a^{sis o}^f^t^h^e²⁰⁰¹^C^eⁿ^s^us^,¹
^th^{e v}^o^ti^ng^ag^{e popu}^lation^w^a^s^approx^im^a^t^el^y⁸⁰^mⁱ^llion^people.
The current military-backed caretaker government has stated that it wishes to hold elections in
2008 after implementing electoral reforms to include a new voter list and improved voter
identification. Observers believe that the military has been reluctant to play a more direct role for ²
fear of jeopardizing its lucrative international peacekeeping work. Some observers are already
concerned that elections may be further delayed. According to Brad Adams, Asia Director for
Human Rights Watch, the army is running the country and does not intend to relinquish power in
the near future. It has been reported that as many as 200,000 people, including leading politicians, ³
have been jailed under the emergency.
Disillusionment among Bangladeshis with the two traditional ruling political parties, the Awami
League led by Sheikh Hasina and the Bangladesh National Party led by Khaleda Zia, meant that
emergency rule has been broadly welcomed by the populace. Zia was prime minister from 1991
to 1996 and from 2001 to 2006, while Hasina was prime minister from 1996 to 2001. There are
reportedly signs that discontent may emerge should elections be indefinitely delayed.
Bangladesh’s economy is projected to grow by approximately 6% through 2008 despite the ⁴
political turmoil.

¹^“^R^e^port^of^the^Na^tiona^{l De}^m^o^c^r^a^tic^Instit^ute^(NDI)^P^r^e^-^e^l^e^c^tion^De^le^g^a^{tion to Ba}^ng^la^de^sh’s²⁰⁰⁶^/2⁰⁰⁷^P^a^rlia^m^e^nta^r^y
^Ele^c^tions^,”^N^a^tio^na^{l De}^moc^r^atic^Institute^,^D^h^a^k^a^,^Se^pte^m^be^r^11,²⁰⁰⁶^.
²^“Ban^gl^ad^eshⁱⁿ^t^h^{e Bal}^aⁿ^ce,^”^C^S^I^S^S^out^{h As}ⁱ^a^M^o^nitor^,^A^u^g^u^s^t^1,²⁰⁰^7.
³^Yaro^sl^{av T}^r^o^fⁱ^m^o^v^,^“Ho^w^A^r^my^{’s Co}^up^S^t^al^l^e^{d Dem}^o^crac^{y i}ⁿ^Ban^g^l^a^d^e^sh^,^—^U.^S^.^,^U.^N.^Backed^Mo^{ve A}^h^ead^o^f
^Vot^e^,^”^T^h^{e Wa}^l^l^S^t^reet^Jou^r^na^l^,^J^uⁿ^e^5,²⁰⁰⁷^.
⁴^“Ban^gl^ad^esh^Co^un^t^r^y^Rep^o^r^t^,^”^T^h^e^Ec^on^{omist I}ⁿ^te^lligeⁿ^c^e^Unit,^J^uⁿ^e²⁰⁰⁷^.

Under its anti-corruption drive the caretaker government has moved decisively against the
established political parties. This has the potential to fundamentally change the political
landscape of Bangladesh. Bangladesh has for many years been one of the world’s most corrupt
nations. Charges have now been brought against both AL leader Hasina as well as Zia of the BNP.
Hasina was arrested on charges of extortion while Zia was charged with tax evasion on July 16,
2007. Hussein Muhamad Ershad of the Jatiya Party has also recently retired from politics. Some
observers question the caretaker government’s motives and commitment to restore democracy in ⁵
Bangladesh in light of these moves. In recent commentary in the Daily Star of Bangladesh it has
been asserted that “... it now seems clearer than ever that the oligopoly of the existing political
parties is what the current administration is intent on breaking up.” Concern has also been raised
that the caretaker government may have unintentionally created a vacuum through its anti-
corruption assault on the established parties that the relatively unscathed Islamist parties may be ⁶
well positioned to fill.
The Election Commission is moving forward with voter identity cards that reportedly will include
photographs of each individual. This is a process that is thought will take at least a year to
implement in Bangladesh, a nation with 147 million people and high illiteracy. Restrictions on
political assembly remain in force in Bangladesh. Many have hoped that the state of emergency
could begin to be lifted. Allowing indoor political meetings would be one way to initiate a lifting
of the state of emergency.
The roughly even split in support for the AL and the BNP has given small Islamist parties, some
of which have ties to violent Islamist radicals, a disproportionate voice in Bangladesh’s
government and politics in recent years. Islamists support the imposition of Sharia law in
Bangladesh. While Islam has served as a legitimizing political force in Bangladesh, which is 88%
Muslim, the present military-backed caretaker government has emphasized anti-corruption as a
legitimizing concept and has demonstrated its resolve to fight radical Islamists. This has included
the execution of previously captured violent extremist leaders. The country’s two main Islamist
militant groups are the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen and the Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB), ⁷
both of which were outlawed under the previous BNP government.
Army forces captured Habibur Rahman Bulbuli in June 2007. Bulbuli was leader of the Khelafat
Majlish that is a component of the Islamiya Okiya Jote, which was a junior partner in the former
BNP government of Khaleda Zia. Bulbuli has claimed to be a veteran of fighting in Afghanistan ⁸
and a follower of Osama bin Laden. In June 2007, Bangladesh police charged Mufti Hannan and
three accomplices, who are all now in prison, with trying to assassinate the British High
Commissioner Anwar Choudhury in 2004. Choudhury, who is of Bangladeshi origin, was
wounded in a grenade attack as were some 50 others. Three were also killed in the attack which

⁵^Lⁱ^sa^{Curtis, “}^P^r^o^te^c^ting^De^m^o^c^r^a^c^y^{in Ba}^ng^la^de^sh,”^The^H^e^rⁱ^t^age^Fouⁿ^d^a^tio^n,^J^u^ly^17,²⁰^07.
⁶^Za^f^a^r^Sobha^{n “}^T^hr^e^e^D^o^wⁿ^{, O}ⁿ^e^{to G}^o^,”^The^D^a^ily^Star^,^J^u^ly^{6, 2}⁰⁰⁷^a^s^r^e^prⁱⁿ^te^{d i}ⁿ^“^B^aⁿ^g^l^a^d^e^s^h^Pa^pe^r^W^a^rⁿ^s
^G^o^v^e^rⁿ^m^e^{nt A}^g^aⁱ^ns^{t R}^o^le^of^I^s^la^mⁱ^{sts in Future}^Polit^ic^s,”^{BBC Ne}^ws,^J^u^ly^{7, 20}⁰⁷^.
⁷^“B’d^esh^P^o^lⁱ^{ce S}^a^y^Fⁱⁿ^d^No^T^r^{ace o}^f^“Ne^w^{” al}^-Qaed^a,^”^Reu^t^ers,^Ma^y^{20, 20}^07.
⁸^“Ban^gl^ad^esh^F^o^{rces Cap}^t^u^r^{e A}^f^g^h^aⁿ^W^a^{r V}^e^t^e^ran^Bul^b^u^lⁱ^,^”^Asi^a^News^In^tern^a^tⁱ^oⁿ^a^l,^M^a^y¹⁶^,²⁰⁰⁷^.

occurred at a shrine near Choudhury’s ancestral home.⁹ The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)
reportedly captured four suspected members of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen, as well as grenades and ¹⁰
explosives, near Kishoregani northwest of Dhaka on July 18, 2007. A United Nations Counter
Terror Assessment Team traveled to Bangladesh in June 2007. It will reportedly make ¹¹
recommendations on what technical assistance is needed by Bangladesh.
The intense and at times violent political rivalry between the country’s two main political parties,
the Bangladesh National Party (BNP) and the Awami League (AL), and the presence of radical
Islamist parties and groups, have defined Bangladesh’s poor political environment in recent years.
Other challenges facing Bangladesh include rampant corruption, dysfunctional parliamentary
government, a weak judiciary, poor human rights, communal conflict, periodic environmental ¹²
disasters, and poverty.
An understanding of the close political balance between the two main parties in the last election is
necessary to understand the political maneuvering that has taken place in the lead-up to the
elections that were scheduled for January 22, 2007. Bangladesh has a 300 seat unicameral
national parliament known as the Jatiya Sangsad. During the last election, held on October 1,
2001, the Bangladesh National Party (BNP), led by Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, and its alliance
partners won 41% of votes. The BNP’s alliance partners in that election included the Jamaat-e-
Islami (JI), the Islamiya Okiya Jote (IOJ) and the Jatiya Party (JP) - Manzur Faction. They were
opposed by the Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina, which won 40% of the vote. The number of
seats won by party were as follows: BNP: 193, AL: 58, JI: 17, JP (Ershad Faction): 14, IOJ: 2, JP ¹³
(Manzur Faction): 4, and others: 12.
Elections in Bangladesh are to be held every five years. Bangladesh has instituted a provision for
the President to appoint an interim government in the immediate lead-up to polls in order to
prevent the incumbent government from using the powers of office to unfair political advantage.
The United Kingdom Parliamentary Human Rights Group reported in October 2006 that
prospects for a free and fair election in Bangladesh looked “bleak.” Others have agreed with this
assessment. Manipulation of voters lists, rampant and escalating political violence, the
assassination of former finance Minister Shah AMS Kibria, the attempt on the British High
Commissioner’s life, grenade attacks against AL leader Hasina, the suicide bombing of two
judges, the simultaneous bombings across the country in August 2005, and killings by the elite
Rapid Action Battalion have been identified as sources of instability and reasons for pessimism ¹⁴
on the democratic process in Bangladesh.
Former Prime Minister Sheik Hasina of the Awami League heads an alliance that sought to wrest
power from the former BNP government headed by Khaleda Zia. Hasina and the Awami League

⁹^B’d^e^sh^Ch^{arges Islam}ⁱ^sts^f^o^{r A}^t^t^{acks o}ⁿ^U.^K.^En^vo^y^,^”^Reu^t^ers,^J^u^ne^9,²⁰⁰⁷^.
¹⁰^“Ban^gl^ad^esh^A^rrest^{s Isl}^a^mi^st^s,^S^eⁱ^{zes E}^x^p^l^o^sⁱ^v^es,^”^Reu^t^ers,^J^u^ly¹⁸^{, 2}⁰⁰⁷^.
¹¹^Ma^{sud Ka}^rim^,^“^{UN T}^e^a^m^{to He}^{lp Ba}^ng^la^de^{sh T}^a^c^k^le^T^e^rroris^m^,”^Reu^t^ers,^J^une^{3, 20}^07.
¹²^“Ban^gl^ad^esh^T^o^d^a^y^,^”^Inte^rnation^a^l^{Crisis Gro}^up,^O^c^tobe^r^23,²⁰⁰⁶^.
¹³^Ba^ng^la^de^s^h^e^l^e^c^t^s^its^re^pre^s^eⁿ^ta^ti^v^e^s^b^y^dis^t^ric^t^{. CIA}^W^o^{rld Fa}^c^t^bo^ok^{, htt}^p^://w^w^w^.c^is^.^g^ov^/c^ia^/^p^u^b^lic^a^tions^/^f^ac^tbook^/
^geo^s^/^b^g.
¹⁴^“^P^r^o^s^p^e^c^t^f^o^r^Fr^e^e^,^Fa^ir^Ele^c^tion^{in B}^a^ng^la^de^s^h^“^B^le^a^k^”^-^U^K^P^a^r^lⁱ^a^m^e^nta^r^y^G^r^oup,”^{BBC News,}^O^c^tobe^r^{2, 20}^06.

alliance threatened to boycott the January 22 elections. The Awami league held large scale
demonstrations in December 2006 to highlight their demands, which included a revision of the ¹⁵
voter list.
The traditionally more secular of the two main political parties, the Awami League, reportedly
signed an agreement with the Khelafat Majlis, considered by some to be a pro-Taliban style ¹⁶
Islamist group, in the lead-up to the polls scheduled for January 2007. Former General Hussein
Muhamad Ershad, who ruled Bangladesh from 1982 to 1990, had joined the AL to contest the
election but was deemed a fugitive of justice by the government after fleeing corruption ¹⁷
charges. Some had viewed Ershad as a possible kingmaker, or, in the case of Bangladesh, a
queenmaker, in the scheduled but postponed polls of January 2007.
Former U.S. Ambassador Patricia Butenis stated that Bangladeshis “have suffered because the
political parties ... could not agree on the basic rules of the game ... the hard part is actually
creating political parties that are genuinely democratic in practice and outlook, parties that focus ¹⁸
on issues and the national interest instead of personalities....”
In the lead-up to the scheduled January 2007 election, observers generally feared that political
infighting, corruption, rising Islamist extremism, and political violence would further erode the
Bangladesh government’s ability to effectively or democratically govern. Bombings and other
violence “targeted opponents of Islamization: secular and leftist politicians, intellectuals and ¹⁹
journalist, and religious minority groups.” Bangladesh’s status as a secular and moderate state,
as well as its democratic process, has been jeopardized as a result of the approach taken by the
two main political parties. Further, there is concern that should Bangladesh become a failed state,
or a state with increased influence by Islamist extremists, it could increasingly serve as a base of ²⁰
operations for terrorist activity.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia John Gastright stated in testimony
before the House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia on August 1, 2007, that
Bangladesh was “... fast becoming a democracy in name only, where money, cronyism and
intimidation increasingly dictated the outcome of elections.” In discussing the shift to the new
military-backed caretaker government, he stated that U.S. was initially “troubled that this
dramatic shift in government might signal a hidden agenda to indefinitely delay a return to
democracy and conceal a secret military coup.” He added that the caretaker government was ²¹
responsive to calls for outlining a roadmap to elections and the restoration of democracy.

¹⁵^P^a^rv^e^eⁿ^A^h^m^e^{d, “}^B^aⁿ^g^l^a^d^e^s^{h P}^o^litic^a^l^A^llia^nc^e^thre^a^t^eⁿ^{s More}^P^r^ote^s^{ts of}^Upc^o^mⁱ^ng^Ele^c^tion,”^A^s^so^ci^a^t^ed^P^r^ess,
^Dece^m^b^{er 1}⁸^,²⁰⁰⁶^.
¹⁶^“^H^a^s^ina^De^a^l^w^{ith Ba}^ng^la^de^{sh Is}^la^mⁱ^{sts Spa}^r^k^s^Critic^ism^,^”^Re^ute^r^s,^Dece^m^b^{er 2}⁶^,²⁰⁰⁶^.
¹⁷^“^B^aⁿ^g^l^a^d^e^s^{h Ex}^-Milita^ry^Rule^{r A}^s^k^e^{d to Surre}^nde^r,”^A^g^en^{ce F}^r^an^{ce P}^r^esse,^D^e^c^e^m^b^e^r^{26, 20}⁰⁶^.
¹⁸^Am^b^a^ss^ad^o^r^P^a^t^rⁱ^cⁱ^a^Bu^t^eⁿⁱ^s,^“E^l^ectⁱ^oⁿ^s^T^h^{e Ro}^{ad A}^h^ead^,^”^Dh^{aka Un}ⁱ^v^ersi^t^y^,^Dece^m^b^{er 1}⁷^,²⁰⁰⁶^.
¹⁹^Ste^phe^{n Ulp}^h^{, “}^N^a^tio^nw^ide^Bom^b^ing^Ca^m^p^aⁱ^gⁿ^{in Ba}^ng^la^de^sh,”^T^h^e^J^a^m^e^s^t^owⁿ^Fo^un^dati^oⁿ^,^A^u^gu^st¹⁹^,²⁰⁰⁵^.
²⁰^Ma^ny^{in B}^a^ng^la^de^s^h^ha^v^e^no^{t w}^a^nte^d^t^o^de^v^e^{lop B}^a^ng^la^de^s^h^g^a^s^r^e^s^our^c^e^s^f^o^r^e^x^por^{t to I}ⁿ^dⁱ^a^.^“^B^aⁿ^g^l^a^d^e^s^{h: C}^o^uⁿ^tr^y
^Ris^k^O^v^e^r^vⁱ^e^w^,”^G^l^{obal I}ⁿ^sⁱ^g^h^t,^Ma^y^2006.
²¹^Sta^t^e^m^eⁿ^{t of}^J^{ohn G}^a^s^t^rⁱ^g^h^{t D}^e^puty^A^s^sⁱ^s^t^aⁿ^{t Se}^c^r^e^t^a^r^y^o^f^Sta^t^e^f^o^r^So^{uth a}^{nd C}^e^ntr^a^{l A}^s^ia^{n A}^f^f^a^ir^{s B}^e^f^o^r^e^the
^H^ous^e^C^o^m^m^itte^e^{on F}^o^r^e^ig^{n A}^f^f^a^ir^s^,^Subc^om^m^itte^e^{on the}^Mi^dd^le^Ea^s^t^a^nd^So^{uth A}^s^ia^{, A}^u^g^u^s^t^1,²⁰⁰⁷^.

The United States has long-standing supportive relations with Bangladesh and has viewed
Bangladesh as a moderate voice in the Islamic world. Major U.S. interests in Bangladesh include
political stability and democratization; continuation of economic reform and market-opening
policies; social and economic development; environmental issues; counterterrorism; and
improvement of the human rights situation. Many in the United States would particularly like to
bolster Bangladesh’s democracy, which is destabilized by political violence. In early 2003, Dhaka
was the site of modestly-sized street demonstrations in opposition to the U.S.-led invasion of ²²
Iraq.
Table 1. U.S. Assistance to Bangladesh, 2003-2007
^{(thousands of doll}^ars)
^Acc^ount^FY20^{03 FY20}^{04 FY20}^{05 FY20}⁰⁶^FY20⁰⁷^c^FY20⁰⁸^req.
^CSH^27,6^{00 35,5}^{00 33,4}^{12 31,5}⁰⁹^{— 39,6}¹⁵
^DA^21,3^{91 18,2}^{00 16,5}^{35 10,8}⁸⁹^{— 39,6}⁵⁰
^ESF^4,00^{0 4,97}^{1 4,96}^{0 4,95}⁰^—⁰
^FMF⁰^{0 248 990}^{— 875}
^IMET^{772 862}^1,03^{5 930}^{— 800}
^INCLE^{0 0 0 0}^—^1,50⁰
^NADR⁰⁰^{893 5,09}⁴^{— 6,35}⁰
^Peace^Corps^1,24^{8 1,56}^{6 1,77}³⁷⁰⁶^—⁰
^Totals^55,0^{11 61,0}^{99 58,8}^{56 55,0}⁶⁸^{— 88,7}⁹⁰
^{Food Aid}
^{P.L. 480 Title II Gra}^nt^a^38,5^{77 33,4}^{51 22,1}^{22 30,2}⁰⁷^{— 31,0}⁰⁰
^{Section 416(b)}^b⁴⁹^{53 3,25}^{7 3,83}³^—^—
^Sources:^{CRS Report RL31}³⁶^2,^{U.S. Foreign Aid to East and South Asia: Selected Recipients}^{, b}^y^Thom^{as Lum. U.S.}
^Department^{of State, USAID, U.}^S^.^{Department of Ag}^riculture.
^Note:^Chil^{d Survival and Health}^{(CSH), Devel}^{opment Assistance}^{(DA), Economic Support Fu}^{nds (E}^{SF), F}^oreign
^{Military Financing (FMF), Internati}^{onal Military Education and Training, (IMET), Non-proliferation, An}^{ti-terrorism,}
^{Demining and Related programs (}^NADR).
^a.^{USAID data—includes freight cos}^ts.
^b.^{USDA data—does not include freight costs.}
^c.^{Support is e}^{xpected to}^{be close t}^o^{FY2006 levels.}
Bangladesh is a recipient of significant international aid. It has received more than $30 billion
from foreign donors since its independence in 1971. The State Department has requested a total ²³
of $88,790,000 in assistance for Bangladesh in the FY2008 budget request. U.S. assistance to
Bangladesh supports health and economic development programs, the improvement of working
conditions, including the elimination of child labor. P.L. 480 funds provide food assistance for the

²²^“^T^ex^{t: Pow}^e^{ll, B}^a^ng^la^de^s^h^For^eⁱ^g^{n Minis}^t^e^r^K^h^aⁿ^C^onf^e^r^{in W}^a^s^h^ing^t^on^J^a^{n 2}⁴^,”^U^S^I^S^W^a^s^h^ing^t^on^File^{, J}^aⁿ^u^a^r^y
²⁴^,²⁰⁰³^;^“Ban^gl^ad^esh^P^o^rt^Ci^t^y^S^{ees L}^a^r^g^est^Aⁿ^tⁱ^-^W^a^{r P}^r^o^t^est^,^”^Reu^t^{ers News}^{, A}^p^r^{il 6,}²⁰⁰^3.
²³^“^S^out^{h a}ⁿ^{d C}^e^ntr^a^l^A^s^ia^,”^Budge^{t J}^u^s^tific^at^io^{n D}^o^c^u^m^eⁿ^t^for²⁰⁰⁷^,^D^e^pa^r^t^m^e^{nt of}^Sta^t^e^,²⁰⁰^6,^p.⁴⁹^4.

poorest families and for disaster relief. International Military Education and Training programs
strengthen the international peacekeeping force of Bangladesh, which is a leading contributor of
U.N. peacekeeping personnel.
The United States is Bangladesh’s largest export destination. Bangladesh’s main import partners ²⁴
are India, China, Kuwait, Singapore, Japan, and Hong Kong. The United States exports wheat,
fertilizer, cotton, communications equipment, and medical supplies, among other goods to
Bangladesh. Ready made garments and jute carpet backing are two of Bangladesh’s key exports
to the U.S. The United States has generally had a negative balance of trade with Bangladesh since ²⁵

1986.

²⁴^“Ban^gl^ad^esh^,^”^C^I^{A W}^o^r^l^d^Fac^t^b^ook^,^A^u^gu^st⁸^,²⁰⁰⁶^.
²⁵^“^B^a^c^k^g^r^ound^N^o^te^s^:^B^a^ng^la^de^s^h^,^”^U^.^{S. D}^e^pa^r^t^m^e^{nt of}^Sta^t^e^,^A^u^g^u^s^t^{, 20}⁰⁵^.

Formerly known as East Pakistan, and before that as the East Bengal region of British India,
Bangladesh gained its independence from Pakistan following a civil war in December 1971. The
country’s topography consists mainly of low lying alluvial plain, which is drained by some 700
rivers joining to form five major river systems that flow into the Bay of Bengal. The densely
populated country is subject to the annual ravages of cyclones and flooding. There is a very real
possibility that global warming may lead to
rising sea levels that would likely flood much BANGLADESH IN BRIEF
of Bangladesh’s low-lying costal areas. ^Population:¹⁵^0.44^{8 million}
^{growth rate}^{: 2.06%}
Following two decades of authoritarian rule, ^Area:¹⁴^7,57^{0 s}^{q. km. (slightly smaller than Iowa)}
Bangladesh held its first democratic elections
in 1991. Since then, Dhaka’s politics have ^Capital:^Dhaka
been characterized by a bitter struggle ^{Ethnic Gr}^oups:^{Bengali 9}^{8%; tri}^{bal less than}^{1 million}
between the Bangladesh National Party ^Language:^{Bengali (official); Engl}^{ish widely used}
(BNP) and the Awami League (AL), and ^Religion:^{Muslim 83}^{%; Hindu}¹⁶^%
particularly between the two leaders of the
respective parties, Prime Minister Khaleda ^{Life Expectancy at Birth:}^62.8⁴
Zia (1991-1996, 2001-present) and former ^{Infant Mortality:}^{59.12 per 1,0}^{00 births}
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed (1996-^Inflation:^7.2%
2001). Zia is the widow of former president
and military strongman Ziaur Rahman, who ^{Unemployment:}^2.5%
was assassinated in 1981. Sheikh Hasina is ^{Gross Domestic Pr}^odu^ct^:^{6.6% growth with per capita}
the daughter of Bangladeshi independence ^ppp⁼^$2,3⁰⁰
leader and first prime minister Sheikh ^{Labor Fo}^rce:^Agricultu^{re 6}^{3%, I}^ndustry¹^{1%, and}
Mujibur Rahman, who was assassinated in ^{Services 26}^%

1975. Both the AL and the BNP, when out of ^{Key Exports:}^Garme^{nts, jute, leather, frozen fis}^h,

power, have devoted their energies to ^seafood
parliamentary boycotts, demonstrations, and ^{Key Export Partners:}^{U.S. 25%, Germa}^{ny 1}^{2.7%, U.K.}
strikes in an effort to unseat the ruling party. ^{9.9%, France}^5%
The strikes often succeed in immobilizing the ^Sources:^{CIA World Factbook; Reuters; U.S.}
government and disrupting economic ^Department^{s of State and Comm}^{erce; World Bank.}

activity. The President’s powers are largely
ceremonial, though they are expanded during
the tenure of a caretaker government.
The BNP and its alliance partners were elected in October 2001. Observers declared the poll
generally free and fair, though more than 100 people were killed in pre-election violence. The AL,
however, claimed that the elections were rigged and boycotted parliament for several months in
protest. Since June 2002, the AL regularly has boycotted most parliamentary sessions or walked
out of sessions in protest. The BNP has published a white paper on the misuse of power,
mismanagement and corruption allegedly committed during the period of AL rule. There has been
some concern about the former BNP ruling coalition’s inclusion of the fundamentalist Jamaat-e-²⁶
Islami party, which supports turning secular and moderate Bangladesh into an Islamic republic.

²⁶^“F^o^r^ei^gn^Ob^{servers S}^a^y^B^aⁿ^g^l^a^d^e^sh^Vo^t^e^W^a^{s F}^aⁱ^r^,^”^Reu^t^{ers News,}^Oct^o^b^e^{r 2,}²⁰⁰¹^;^“Zⁱ^a^’s^Vⁱ^ct^o^r^y^,^”^A^sⁱ^a^week,
^O^c^tobe^r¹²^,²⁰^01;^“^N^e^w^P^r^e^mⁱ^e^r^{in B}^a^ng^la^de^s^h^V^o^w^s^{to Sta}^m^{p O}^u^{t C}^o^r^r^u^pti^on,”^{New Yo}^rk^Times,^O^c^tobe^r¹¹^,²⁰⁰¹^.

There has been much political violence in Bangladesh in recent years. In January 2005 the State
Department issued a statement that “strongly condemned” the bomb attack that killed four,
including former Awami League Finance Minister A.M.S. Kibria, and injured 70 at a political
rally of the Awami League on January 27, 2005. The incident was described by the State
Department as “the latest in a series of often deadly attacks on prominent leaders of the political
opposition and civil society.” On August 21, 2004, grenades were hurled in an apparent political
assassination attempt on opposition leader Sheikh Hasina at a political rally in Dhaka and killed
22. These two attacks, and widespread bombings on August 17, 2005 marked a rising tide of
political violence in Bangladesh. The formerly ruling Awami League alleged that the Jamaat-e-
Islami and Islamiya Okiyya Jote parties protected the radicals responsible for the violence from ²⁷
prosecution by the government.
Corruption is widespread in Bangladesh. Berlin-based Transparency International ranked ²⁸
Bangladesh as among the world’s most corrupt countries. The Index of Economic Freedom has
ranked Bangladesh’s economy as “mostly unfree” and states that “...corruption also serves as a ²⁹
non-tariff barrier.” According to one source, Bangladesh took disciplinary action against a
significant percentage of its police force in recent years for offenses ranging from corruption to ³⁰
dereliction of duty. According to one source, Bangladesh’s largest port, Chittagong, which
handles 90% of all trade to Bangladesh, is hampered by widespread corruption and a rapid ³¹
increase in piracy. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Richard Boucher has stated ³²
“the main obstacles [for Bangladesh] are corruption and poor governance.”

There are several terrorist and militant extremist groups operating in Bangladesh including Harkat
ul Jihad al Islami (HuJi), Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB), and Jama’atul Mujahideen
Bangladesh (JMB). Bangladeshi opposition, analysts, and media observers have alleged that the
presence in the former ruling Bangladesh National Party (BNP) Coalition government of two
Islamist parties, the Islamiya Okiyya Jote (IOJ) and the Jamaat-e-Islami, had expanded Islamist

²⁷^Rolaⁿ^d^Bue^r^k^,^”^B^aⁿ^g^l^a^d^e^s^{h a}ⁿ^d^I^s^la^mⁱ^c^Milita^nts,”^{BBC News,}^Fe^br^ua^r^y^{25, 2}⁰⁰⁵^.
²⁸^T^h^e^inde^x^r^a^nk^s¹⁵^{9 c}^o^untrⁱ^e^s^ba^s^e^{d on}^a^c^o^m^pos^ite^of^{16 s}^u^r^v^ey^s^dr^a^w^{n f}^r^o^m^{10 ins}^tit^uti^ons^g^a^the^r^ing^the
^pe^r^c^e^p^tions^of^busⁱⁿ^e^s^s^pe^o^p^le^aⁿ^{d a}ⁿ^a^l^y^s^ts^{. T}^h^e^inde^x^de^fⁱ^ne^s^c^o^r^r^upti^oⁿ^a^s^the^a^b^us^e^of^pu^blic^of^fⁱ^ce^f^o^r^pr^iv^a^t^e^g^a^in.
⁽²⁰^{05 T}^r^aⁿ^spa^r^eⁿ^c^y^Inte^rna^tiona^l^Corru^ptioⁿ^P^e^rc^e^p^ti^{ons I}^nde^x^,^htt^p^://w^ww^.in^f^ople^a^s^e^.^c^o^m^.⁾
²⁹^“^B^aⁿ^g^l^a^d^e^s^h,”²⁰^{06 I}^nde^x^of^Ec^onom^ic^Fre^e^dom^{, H}^e^rita^g^e^Found^a^tion,^htt^p^://w^w^w^.he^r^ita^g^e^.org^.
³⁰^“Ban^gl^ad^esh^P^uⁿⁱ^sh^{es Nearl}^y^T^w^o^T^hⁱ^r^d^s^o^fⁱ^t^s^P^o^lⁱ^{ce F}^o^rce,^”^Reu^t^ers,^A^u^gu^st²⁰^,²⁰⁰⁶^.
³¹^Eliz^a^b^e^t^h^{Mills, “}^A^ng^e^r^Af^te^{r Ba}^ng^la^de^shi^{Port is Na}^m^e^{d W}^o^{rst f}^o^r^Pⁱ^ra^c^y^,”^G^l^{obal I}ⁿ^sⁱ^ght^,^J^u^ly^28,²⁰^06.
³²^“^C^orrup^tio^{n, I}ⁿ^tra^-^pa^rty^Conf^lic^{ts Ch}^a^lle^ng^e^B^a^ng^la^de^s^h^’^s^N^e^x^t^Ele^c^tions^,”^Uⁿⁱ^t^e^d^N^e^w^s^of^Ba^ngl^a^d^e^s^h,^Ma^y^18,
²⁰⁰^6.
³³^For^a^m^o^r^e^in-^d^e^p^th^dis^c^us^sⁱ^on^o^f^the^rⁱ^s^e^of^I^s^lamⁱ^s^t^f^unda^m^e^nta^lism^a^{nd the}^ne^x^u^s^w^{ith te}^r^r^o^rⁱ^s^t^a^c^tiv^ityⁱⁿ
^B^a^ng^la^de^s^h^{, s}^e^e^Hⁱ^r^a^nm^ay^K^a^r^l^ek^a^r^,^Bang^la^de^s^h^:^T^h^e^N^e^x^t^Afg^h^aⁿ^is^ta^n?^(Ne^w^De^{lhi: Sa}^g^e^P^u^blish^e^{rs, 20}^05),^Sum^it
^G^aⁿ^g^u^l^y^,^“^T^h^e^{Rise o}^f^Isla^mⁱ^{st M}^ilitaⁿ^c^yⁱⁿ^Ban^g^lad^e^sh^{,” U.S. I}ⁿ^st^itu^{te o}^f^P^{eace Sp}^{ecial Rep}^o^r^t^,^A^u^g^u^{st 2}⁰⁰⁶^aⁿ^d
^C^R^S^R^e^por^t^R^L³²²^59,^T^e^rro^{rism in}^S^o^u^t^{h Asia}^,^by^K^.^A^l^aⁿ^K^r^ons^t^a^{dt a}ⁿ^d^B^r^uc^e^Va^ug^hn^.

influence in Bangladesh and created space within which terrorist and extremist groups could
operate. Islami Okiyya Jote is thought to have ties to the radical Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami ³⁴
(HuJI). Jamaat also reportedly has ties to Harkat ul-Jihad-i-Islami which has ties to Al Qaeda. ³⁵
Harkat leader Fazlul Rahman signed an Osama bin Laden holy war declaration in 1998. JMB
seeks the imposition of Sharia law for Bangladesh and is thought responsible for the widespread
and coordinated August 2005 bombings. HuJI has been implicated in the January 2002 attack on ³⁶
the American Center in Calcutta, India. HuJI, or the Movement of Islamic Holy War, is on the
U.S. State Department’s list of “other terrorist organizations,” has links to Pakistani militant ³⁷
groups, and has a cadre strength of several thousand. Awami League sources claimed that ³⁸
fundamentalist leader Bangla Bhai had ties to Jamaat-e-Islami. AL leader Sheikh Hasina has ³⁹
accused the government of “letting loose communal extremist forces.” Some news sources have
reported that international extremists are using Bangladeshi passports and that some are obtaining ⁴⁰
them with the assistance of sympathetic officials at various Bangladesh Embassies.
Two senior members of IOJ have reportedly been connected with the reemergence of Harkat ul ⁴¹
Jihad (HuJi) under the name “Conscious Islamic People.” It has also been reported that the ⁴²
political wing of HuJi will seek to enter politics under the name Islami Gono Andolon. The
former BNP government had denied the presence of significant terrorist elements in the country
and reportedly had even expelled BNP lawmaker Abu Hena from the BNP for speaking out
against extremist activities at a time when the official view was that such extremists did not ⁴³
exist.
The former BNP government eventually moved to suppress the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen (JMB) and
the Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB) terrorist groups in Bangladesh. The government
sentenced to death JMB leaders Shaikh Abdur Rahman and Siddiq ul Islam, also known as
“Bangla Bhai,”as well as five other JMB members, in May 2006. They were subsequently ⁴⁴
executed for their role in the bombings. The two Islamist militant leaders received their
sentences for the murder of two judges in November of 2005. They are also thought to have been
behind widespread bombings in Bangladesh and to have sought to replace the secular legal
system with Sharia law through such attacks. The government also reportedly has arrested some

900 lower-level militants, seven known senior leaders, four out of 11 commanders, and some 20 ⁴⁵

district leaders on terrorism charges. Despite this, the opposition Awami League (AL) party

³⁴^Rolaⁿ^d^Bue^r^k^,^“^B^aⁿ^g^l^a^d^e^s^{h a}ⁿ^d^Isla^mⁱ^c^Milita^nts,”^{BBC News,}^Fe^br^ua^r^y^{25, 2}⁰⁰⁵^.
³⁵^“Ban^gl^ad^esh^Beco^mⁱⁿ^g^{a Re}^gi^oⁿ^al^T^e^rro^{r Hu}^b^,^”^Hind^u^s^t^a^{n T}ⁱ^mes^{, A}^u^gu^st³^,²⁰⁰⁶^.
³⁶^“Ban^gl^ad^esh^’^{s F}ⁱ^rst^S^uⁱ^cⁱ^d^{e B}^o^mb^ers,^”^Jaⁿ^e^{s T}^e^rro^{rism an}^d^S^ecu^r^{ity Mo}ⁿⁱ^t^o^r,^J^a^nua^r^y^18,²⁰⁰⁶^.
³⁷^O^f^fⁱ^c^e^o^f^the^C^oor^dina^t^o^r^f^o^r^C^o^unte^r^te^r^r^o^rⁱ^s^m^{, D}^e^pa^r^t^m^e^{nt of}^Sta^t^e^,^Pa^ttern^{s o}^f^Gl^o^b^a^l^T^e^rro^rism,²⁰⁰³^,^A^p^ril²⁹^,
²⁰⁰^4.
³⁸^Ro^l^a^nd^Bu^erk,^“Ban^gl^ad^esh^’^{s E}^s^cal^atⁱⁿ^{g E}^x^t^r^e^mⁱ^s^m^,^”^{BBC News,}^N^o^v^e^m^b^e^r^29,²⁰^05.
³⁹^R^o^l^a^nd^B^u^er^k,^“Dh^a^{ka S}^t^r^u^ggl^{es t}^o^R^e^spoⁿ^d^to^B^o^m^b^s,^”^{BBC Ne}^ws,^A^u^g^u^s^t^{, 20}^05.
⁴⁰^“^I^nte^r^na^tio^na^{l T}^e^r^r^o^rⁱ^s^t^s^U^s^ing^B^a^ng^la^de^s^hⁱ^P^a^s^s^por^ts^,”^N^o^te^{s Fro}^m^the^Ba^ng^{la M}^e^di^a,^A^u^g^u^s^t³⁰^,²⁰⁰^{6, T}^h^e^U^.^S^.
^E^m^b^a^ss^y,^Dh^aka,^“Ban^gl^ad^esh^P^r^{ess S}^e^l^ectⁱ^oⁿ^,^”^{BBC News}^{, A}^u^g^u^s^t³⁰^{, 2}⁰⁰⁶^{; a}^{nd “}^B^S^F^W^a^nts^A^{nup C}^h^e^tia
^D^e^por^te^d,”^I^ndi^an^Ex^pr^e^s^s^,^A^u^gu^st²⁹^,²⁰⁰⁶^.
⁴¹^{“IOJ Beh}ⁱⁿ^d^Reem^erg^eⁿ^{ce o}^f^Ha^rkat^u^l^Ji^h^a^d^,^{” N}^o^t^e^{s F}^r^o^m^t^h^{e Ban}^g^l^a^M^e^dⁱ^a,^Unⁱ^t^ed^S^t^at^{es E}^m^b^a^s^s^y^,^Dh^aka,
^A^u^g^u^s^t^22,²⁰^06.
⁴²^“^W^a^r^{on T}^e^r^r^o^r^Dⁱ^g^e^s^t^21-²²^A^u^g^06,”^BBC^M^onit^o^rin^g^,^A^u^gu^st²²^,²⁰⁰⁶^.
⁴³^“S^u^m^m^e^{r o}^f^Di^s^c^oⁿ^t^en^tⁱⁿ^t^h^{e B}^N^P^,^”^Uⁿ^ite^{d N}^e^w^s^{of B}^aⁿ^g^la^de^s^h^,^J^une^{9, 200}^6.
⁴⁴^“^B^aⁿ^g^l^a^d^e^s^{h A}^r^r^e^s^t^s^T^o^Se^nior^L^e^a^d^e^r^s^of^B^a^nne^{d Mili}^ta^{nt G}^r^ou^p,^”^{BBC News,}^J^u^ly^12,²⁰^07.
⁴⁵^“Ban^g^l^ad^esh^Co^aliti^oⁿ^P^a^r^tⁿ^e^{rs t}^o^{Face Electio}ⁿ^T^o^g^e^th^{er Am}^id^Terro^rism^Ch^arg^e^s,”^Op^en^S^o^u^r^{ce Cen}^t^er^{, J}^u^ly^13,
⁽^c^onti^nue^d.^..)

Leader Sheikh Hassina stated “militants are partners of the government ... the government catches
a few militants whenever foreign guests visit Bangladesh.” She has also alleged that Jamaat has

15,000 guerillas and its own training camps. Hassina has also stated that the arrest of JMB ⁴⁶

operatives is “only the tip of the iceberg.”
It appears that the government shifted its position on the necessity of acknowledging and
addressing Islamist militants in August of 2005. In response, JMB leader Rahman reportedly has
stated, “masks will fall and you [implying the authorities] will be exposed.” Such an allegation is
consistent with allegations by the AL opposition, which has accused the government, or more ⁴⁷
likely elements within the government, of allowing Islamist militancy to rise in Bangladesh.
Selig Harrison, a prominent South Asian Analyst, noted in early August 2006 that “a growing
Islamic fundamentalist movement linked to al-Qaeda and Pakistani intelligence agencies is
steadily converting the strategically located nation of Bangladesh into a new regional hub for
terrorist operations that reach into India and Southeast Asia.” Harrison points out that former
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh National Party’s coalition alliance with the Jamaat-e-
Islami Party of Bangladesh led to a “Faustian bargain” that brought Jamaat officials into the
government. These officials, he argued, in turn have allowed Taliban-styled squads to operate
with increasing impunity. Jamaat’s entry into the former BNP government also reportedly led to
fundamentalist control over large parts of the Bangladesh economy, Islamist Madrassa schools
that act as fronts for terrorist activity, fundamentalist inroads into the armed forces, and rigging ⁴⁸
(by manipulating voter lists) of the elections that were originally scheduled for January 2007.
The State Department continues to view the government of Bangladesh as working to thwart
terrorist activities. In responding to a question from an Indian journalist who asserted that
Bangladesh “is not only aiding and abetting the separatist Indian guerilla forces, but is also ...
supporting and helping the Islamic forces to fight against India,” Assistant Secretary of State for
South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher stated the following:
^{We s}^{ee t}^h^at^Bang^l^a^deshⁱ^s^a^very^popu^l^a^t^e^{d coun}^t^r^y^wⁱ^t^h^a^dev^e^l^opiⁿ^g^s^e^c^u^ri^t^y^s^e^r^vⁱ^{ce, a}
^d^e^v^e^lo^pⁱⁿ^g^ab^ilit^y^to^fⁱ^g^h^t^ter^r^o^r^is^m^,^wⁱ^t^h^so^m^e^s^u^ccesse^s^alread^y^th^at^t^h^e^y^can^s^h^o^wⁱⁿ
^ter^m^s^o^f^arres^tⁱⁿ^g^th^e^leaders^of^t^h^e^m^a^j^o^{r terroris}^t^g^r^ou^{p th}^at^h^a^s^been^operatiⁿ^gⁱⁿ
^B^aⁿ^g^l^ad^es^h^,^b^u^t^wⁱ^t^h^{a lo}^{t o}^f^w^o^r^k^le^f^t^to^d^o^,ⁱⁿ^ter^m^{s o}^f^g^e^ttin^g^t^h^e^w^h^o^l^eⁿ^e^t^w^o^r^k^aⁿ^d⁴⁹
^g^e^t^tⁱⁿ^g^,^s^t^oppiⁿ^g^ot^h^e^{r peopl}^e^w^ho^mⁱ^gh^t^{be operat}ⁱⁿ^g^t^h^ere.
He also stated that the U.S. government was following the situation in Bangladesh “closely.”⁵⁰

^(...c^on^tin^ue^d)
²⁰⁰^6.
⁴⁶^“^M^ilita^{nts A}^rre^{st Me}^aⁿ^{t to}^Im^pre^{ss US: Ha}^ssina^,”^Hⁱ^nd^us^ta^{n Tim}^e^s^,^A^u^gu^st⁴^,²⁰⁰⁶^.
⁴⁷^“Ban^gl^ad^esh^Bl^ast^M^a^st^ermⁱⁿ^d^s^S^eⁿ^t^en^ced^t^o^Deat^h^,^”^A^g^en^{ce F}^r^an^{ce P}^r^esse,^M^a^y²⁹^,²⁰⁰⁶^.
⁴⁸^Selig^Harrisoⁿ^,^“A^New^Hu^b^f^o^{r T}^e^rro^ri^s^m^{? In}^Ban^g^l^a^d^e^sh^,^Aⁿ^Isl^a^mⁱ^{c M}^o^ve^m^eⁿ^t^wⁱ^t^h^A^l^-Q^aed^{a T}ⁱ^{es i}^s^oⁿ^t^h^e
^Rise,”^The^W^a^s^hⁱ^ngt^on^Pos^t^,^A^ugus^{t 2,}²⁰⁰⁶^.
⁴⁹^“Ri^c^h^a^rd^Bou^c^h^e^{r Ho}^l^d^{s a New}^s^Coⁿ^f^eren^{ce i}ⁿ^Cal^c^u^t^t^a^,^Iⁿ^dⁱ^a,^”^C^Q^Transc^r^ipts,^A^u^g^u^s^t^4,²⁰^06.
⁵⁰^“U.^S^.^W^aⁿ^t^s^P^a^kistan^to^M^o^{ve A}^g^ain^s^{t T}^e^rro^rists,^”^The^Hⁱ^nd^u^{, A}^u^g^u^s^t^5,²⁰^06.

On July 11, 2006, a series of coordinated bomb blasts killed approximately 200 persons while
wounding some 500 others on commuter trains in Bombay (Mumbai), India. Indian authorities
subsequently arrested several individuals reportedly with ties to terrorist groups in Bangladesh
and Nepal who were “directly or indirectly” linked to Pakistan. Indian intelligence officials have
portrayed the bombers as being backed by Pakistan-supported terrorist groups. Pakistan has ⁵¹
denied these allegations. Allegations had been made that the explosives had come from
Bangladesh. In response, Bangladesh authorities stated that the Jamaat ul-Mujahideen (JMB)
attacks in Bangladesh on August 17, 2005, which killed 30 in a series of nationwide blasts, were ⁵²
of Indian origin. Six of the eight arrested in India in connection with the bombings are thought
to have received training from Lashkar-e-Toiba at terrorist camps in Pakistan. Lashkar is a
Pakistan-based militant terrorist group.
While most of the focus in India has been on Pakistan, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President
Rajnath Singh has called on the Indian government to pressure Bangladesh to dismantle terrorist
training centers in Bangladesh. The BJP is the leading opposition party in India. Singh also stated ⁵³
that Bangladesh had become “a centre of Islamic fundamentalist forces.” The anti-terrorism
squad investigating the Bombay blasts also interrogated a number of individuals in a village in ⁵⁴
Tripura, India, that borders Bangladesh. A bombing in Varanasi, India, in March 2006 also ⁵⁵
reportedly had links to HuJi in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is one of the poorest and most densely populated countries in the world. The annual
per capita income is about $2,300 in purchasing power parity. The agricultural sector employs
approximately 63% of the workforce and accounts for 19.9% of GDP while industry employs ⁵⁶
11% and contributes 20.6% of GDP. Services account for 26% of the labor force and 59.5% of
GDP. The major crop is rice, in which Bangladesh is nearly self-sufficient. Industry is centered
mainly on cotton textiles, jute manufacturing, and food processing. Ready-made garments and
knitwear are important exports for Bangladesh. Foreign exchange earnings from remittances by ⁵⁷
Bangladeshis working abroad is another key source of wealth for Bangladesh.
Though Bangladesh is one of the world’s poorest countries, its economy has made some progress
in recent years. The Bangladeshi economy had, like that of its South Asian neighbors, suffered
from years of stagnation under public sector dominance and bureaucratic inefficiency. In 1991,
however, Zia’s BNP government embarked on an economic reform program aimed at promoting
budget discipline and export-led growth. Significant progress was made in reducing the budget

⁵¹^“T^h^r^ee^A^rrest^ed^Ov^{er M}^u^m^b^ai^Bo^m^b^{s L}ⁱⁿ^k^ed^t^o^P^a^ki^st^an^,^”^Fⁱ^na^nci^a^l^Tⁱ^mes,^A^u^gu^st⁶^,²⁰⁰⁶^.
⁵²^W^a^lⁱ^u^{r Rah}^m^an^,^“Dh^a^{ka Di}^s^mⁱ^s^s^e^{s M}^u^m^b^ai^Bo^m^b^Cl^ai^m^,^”^{BBC News,}^J^u^ly^{15, 2}⁰⁰⁶^.
⁵³^“^U^pr^oot^T^e^r^r^o^r^C^a^m^p^s^Fr^om^B^aⁿ^g^la^{: B}^J^P^,^”^Hⁱ^nd^us^ta^{n Tim}^e^s^,^J^u^ly^19,²⁰⁰⁶^.
⁵⁴^“M^u^m^b^aⁱ^P^o^lⁱ^{ce In}^t^e^rr^o^g^at^{es T}^e^r^r^o^r^S^u^sp^ect^{s i}ⁿ^T^rⁱ^p^u^r^a,^”^Hⁱⁿ^dus^t^{an Tim}^e^s^,^J^u^ly^19,²⁰^06.
⁵⁵^“Ban^gl^{a I}^m^mⁱ^gr^an^t^s^t^h^{e T}^h^reat^Wⁱ^t^hⁱⁿ^,^”^Tim^e^s^o^f^Iⁿ^di^a,^J^u^ly^14,²⁰⁰^6.
⁵⁶^“^B^aⁿ^g^l^a^d^e^s^h,”^C^I^A^W^o^r^l^{d Fa}^c^t^book^{, A}^u^g^u^s^t²⁰⁰⁶^.
⁵⁷^Ec^on^om^ic^s^t^a^tis^tic^s^f^r^om^G^l^oba^{l I}ⁿ^sⁱ^g^h^{t, “}^B^aⁿ^g^l^a^d^e^s^h:^Ex^e^c^u^tiv^e^Sum^m^a^r^y^,^”^A^p^r^{il 14}^{, 2}⁰⁰³^{; a}^{nd E}^c^onom^is^t
^Inte^llig^eⁿ^c^e^{Unit, “}^C^ou^ntry^Outlo^ok^{: Ba}^ng^la^de^sh,”^A^p^{ril 2}⁰⁰³^.

deficit, increasing foreign reserves, and attracting new foreign investment. Sheik Hasina’s AL
government (1996-2001) continued to pursue economic reforms, making some headway in
improving the investment climate. However, bureaucratic delays and labor union resistance have
hindered implementation of many reforms, including major privatization efforts. Moreover,
crippling strikes led by both major political parties when out of power have resulted in a loss of
foreign investor confidence. The Bangladeshi economy has been described as “mostly unfree,”as
a result of high levels of trade protectionism and regulation, and an extensive black market ⁵⁸
economy. Bangladesh has been a pioneer in the field of micro enterprise lending programs.
Former Prime Minister Zia called for “faster and deeper economic integration” for the member ⁵⁹
states of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC). SAARC considered a
Free Trade Agreement for member states at a meeting held in Dhaka. The United States was
recently given observer status at SAARC. SAARC granted such status to China and Japan in ⁶⁰

2005.

Frequent and disastrous floods take a heavy toll on lives, homes, crops, and livestock in ^th
Bangladesh. In 1998, Bangladesh suffered its worst flooding of the 20 century. Lasting three
months and covering two-thirds of the country, the floods left more than 1,000 dead and 25
million homeless or marooned. The increase of flood devastation in recent years is related to
growing population pressure and deforestation in upstream areas of Bangladesh and neighboring
India and Nepal. There are reports that Bangladesh has recently improved its disaster
management. Another key environmental issue for Bangladesh has been the sharing with India of
Ganges (called Padma in Bangladesh) River waters. In the early 1990s, Bangladesh claimed that
diversion of the river water to India had increased salinity and desertification of downstream soils
and contributed to increased flooding in Bangladesh. In 1996, Bangladesh and India signed a 30-
year agreement that settled the issue by giving Bangladesh a share of the river waters for the first
time since 1988, when a previous agreement expired. Nonetheless, major water management
issues—including hydroelectric power, deforestation, and water storage—remain to be addressed
on a region-wide basis. A serious environmental problem that has arisen in recent years is the
dangerous levels of naturally occurring arsenic found in drinking water being supplied to millions
of Bangladeshis through a vast system of tubewells that tap the arsenic-contaminated ground ⁶¹
water.

⁵⁸^“^W^or^{ld B}^a^nk^V^P^A^r^rⁱ^v^e^s^f^o^r^T^a^l^k^s^{on B}^a^ng^la^de^s^h^R^e^f^o^r^m^s^,^”^A^g^enc^e^Fr^aⁿ^c^e^-^P^r^e^s^s^e^{, O}^c^to^be^r¹⁶^,²⁰⁰²^;
^T^r^an^sp^aren^c^y^In^t^e^rn^atⁱ^oⁿ^a^l^,^C^o^r^r^upti^oⁿ^Pe^r^c^e^p^tions^Iⁿ^de^x²⁰⁰²^,^A^u^g^u^s^t²⁰⁰²^{, H}^e^r^ita^g^e^Fo^un^da^tioⁿ²⁰⁰^{3 I}^nde^x^of
^Ec^onom^ic^Fr^e^e^dom^{, N}^o^v^e^m^b^e^r^{, 2002}^.
⁵⁹^S^A^A^RC^m^e^m^b^er^{s i}ⁿ^cl^u^d^e^Iⁿ^dⁱ^a,^P^a^ki^st^an^,^Baⁿ^g^l^a^d^e^sh^,^S^rⁱ^L^aⁿ^k^a,^Nep^a^l^,^Bh^ut^an^,^and^T^h^{e M}^a^l^dⁱ^v^es.
⁶⁰^P^a^rveen^A^h^m^e^d^,^“S^o^u^t^{h A}^sⁱ^aⁿ^F^o^rei^gⁿ^Mⁱⁿⁱ^st^{ers M}^eetⁱⁿ^Ban^g^l^a^desh^t^o^Di^scu^{ss S}^ecu^ri^t^y^,^T^r^ad^e,^”^A^sso^ci^a^t^ed^P^r^ess^,
^A^u^gu^st¹^,²⁰⁰⁶^.
⁶¹^“^C^onta^m^ina^tion^of^D^r^inkⁱ^ng^-^W^a^t^e^r^by^A^r^s^e^nic^{in B}^a^ng^la^de^s^h^{: A}^Public^H^e^a^lth^Em^e^r^ge^ncy^,^”^W^o^r^l^d^H^e^a^lth
^Organⁱ^zatⁱ^oⁿ^,^avai^l^a^b^l^{e at}^h^t^t^p^:^/^/^www^.^w^h^o^.^o^r^g;^“Mⁱⁿⁱ^s^t^e^r:^NG^{Os E}^x^ag^gerat^e^T^h^reat^o^f^A^r^senⁱ^{c Co}ⁿ^t^amⁱⁿ^at^ed^W^a^t^e^{r i}ⁿ
^B^a^ng^la^de^s^h^,”^A^s^s^o^cⁱ^a^t^e^d^P^r^e^s^s^N^e^w^s^wⁱ^r^e^{, Se}^pte^m^be^r^{12, 2}⁰⁰²^{; “}^A^r^s^eⁿ^ic^Ma^y^B^e^T^a^inting^B^a^ng^la^de^s^h^{i C}^r^o^p^s^—
^Study^,”^R^e^ute^r^s^N^e^w^s^{, D}^e^c^e^m^b^e^r^4,²⁰^02;^K^h^a^b^ir^A^h^m^a^{d, “}^R^e^por^t^Hⁱ^g^h^lig^hts^Wⁱ^de^s^p^r^e^a^d^A^r^s^e^nic^C^onta^m^ina^tionⁱⁿ
^B^a^ng^la^de^s^h^,”^L^aⁿ^cet⁽^L^ond^on)^,^J^u^ly^{14, 2}⁰⁰¹^.

According to the Department of State’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, the
Bangladesh “government’s human rights record remained poor, and the government continued to
commit numerous serious abuses.”
^{... ex}^traj^u^d^{icial k}ⁱ^lliⁿ^g^{s, arbitrary}^{arrest a}ⁿ^d^deten^t^ion^,^aⁿ^{d politicall}^y^m^o^ti^v^a^{ted v}ⁱ^olen^ce
^w^e^{re a}^m^oⁿ^g^th^e^m^o^s^t^eg^re^gⁱ^ou^s^vⁱ^olat^ion^s^{. Sec}^u^rit^y^f^o^rc^es^acted^wⁱ^t^hⁱ^m^p^uⁿⁱ^t^y^{, an}^d
^com^mⁱ^{tted acts}^of^phy^sⁱ^{cal an}^d^ps^y^c^h^o^logⁱ^ca^{l tortu}^r^{e. In}^a^d^dⁱ^tⁱ^oⁿ^vⁱ^o^l^eⁿ^c^e^ag^aⁱⁿ^s^t^jo^u^rⁿ^a^lⁱ^s^t^s
^con^tⁱⁿ^u^e^{d, as}^di^{d i}ⁿ^f^rⁱⁿ^g^e^m^e^nt^on^relⁱ^gⁱ^ous^f^r^eedo^m^s^.^G^o^v^e^rnm^eⁿ^t^corru^ptⁱ^oⁿ^re^m^aⁱⁿ^{ed a}
^sⁱ^gnⁱ^f^icaⁿ^{t problem}^{. Violen}^ce^ag^ains^t^w^o^m^eⁿ^an^{d ch}ⁱ^l^dren^als^o^w^a^s^a^m^a^jo^r^p^r^o^b^l^e^m^,^a^s^w^a^s⁶²
^t^r^af^fi^ckⁱⁿ^gⁱⁿ^pers^ons^.
Human Rights Watch found in 2006 that the BNP government had “aligned itself with extremist
groups that foment violence against the minority Ahmadiyya community.” Ahmadiyyas are a self
identified Islamic community that differs with mainstream Islam on whether the prophet
Mohammad is the final prophet. BNP government coalition partners JI and the IOJ do not
recognize Ahmadiayys as Muslims “and have been involved in fomenting religious violence ⁶³
against them and other religious minorities.” The government has also been accused of failing to
prosecute attacks against journalists by supporters of the BNP.
Bangladesh’s elite anti-crime and anti-terrorist RAB is thought to be responsible for killing at ⁶⁴
least 350 people in custody and for the torture of hundreds of others. The government’s failure
to punish RAB members for unlawful killings and torture is viewed as indicative of consent for
RAB actions. The RAB was created in 2004 and is known to torture by boring holes in suspects
with electric drills as well as using electric shock and beatings. The RAB has attributed deaths ⁶⁵
associated with its operations as the result of crossfire.
The case of Bangladesh Weekly Blitz editor Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury highlights how the
rise of Islamist tendencies have undermined Bangladesh’s image as a tolerant Muslim state. The
BNP government brought charges against Choudhury stating that
^B^y^p^r^aisin^g^t^h^{e J}^e^w^s^an^d^t^h^e^Ch^rⁱ^stiaⁿ^s^{, b}^y^atte^m^p^tin^g^to^tr^av^{el to}^I^s^r^{ael a}ⁿ^d^b^y^p^r^ed^ictin^g
^th^{e so}^-^cal^led^rⁱ^{se o}^f^I^s^la^mⁱ^st^mⁱ^litan^c^yⁱⁿ^t^h^{e co}^uⁿ^t^r^y^an^d^ex^p^r^e^s^sⁱⁿ^g^su^ch^t^h^o^u^g^h^t^sⁱⁿ^w^rⁱ^tⁱⁿ^g
ⁱⁿ^sid^e^t^h^{e co}^uⁿ^tr^y^aⁿ^d^ab^r^o^ad^{, y}^o^u^h^a^v^e^tr^ied^to^d^a^m^a^g^e^th^{e i}^m^a^g^{e a}ⁿ^d^r^e^latioⁿ^s^o^f
^B^a^nglad^es^h^wⁱ^t^h^{the o}^u^tsid^e^wo^r^l^d^.^Fo^r^w^h^{ich, c}^h^ar^{ges ... ar}^{e b}^r^o^{ught a}^g^ain^s^t^y^o^u.
After 17 months in prison Choudhury was released, though his offices were bombed and the
government continues to press the charges against him. Choudhury could be hanged if convicted.
The media has reported that the efforts of U.S. Representatives Mark Kirk played a role in

⁶²^“Ban^gl^ad^esh^:^Co^un^t^r^y^Rep^o^r^t^s^on^Hu^m^aⁿ^Ri^gh^t^s^P^r^actⁱ^{ces - 2}⁰⁰⁶^,^”^Rel^eased^b^y^t^h^{e Bu}^reau^o^f^Demo^crac^y^,^Hu^man
^Rⁱ^g^h^ts^{, a}ⁿ^d^L^a^bor^,”^U^.^S.^D^e^pa^r^t^m^e^{nt of}^Sta^t^e^,^Ma^r^c^h^6,²⁰^07.
⁶³^H^u^m^a^{n R}ⁱ^g^h^ts^w^a^t^c^{h, “}^B^aⁿ^g^l^a^d^e^s^{h: G}^o^v^e^rⁿ^m^e^{nt Fa}^ils^{to A}^c^{t A}^g^aⁱ^ns^{t R}^e^lig^ious^Vi^oleⁿ^c^e^,^”^J^u^ne¹⁶^,²⁰⁰^5.
⁶⁴^Hum^a^{n Rig}^h^{ts W}^a^tc^h,^J^udge^{, J}^u^r^y^and^E^xecu^tioⁿ^e^{r: To}^rt^u^r^{e a}ⁿ^d^E^x^tra^j^u^dⁱ^ci^a^l^Ki^llin^g^s^b^y^Baⁿ^g^l^a^d^e^sh^{’s Elite}
^S^ecu^ri^t^y^F^o^rce^{, h}^ttp:^//w^w^w^.hrw^.org
⁶⁵^“^B^aⁿ^g^l^a^d^e^s^{h: Elite}^F^o^rc^e^T^o^rture^,^{Kills De}^ta^ine^e^s^,”^De^c^e^m^b^e^r^14,²⁰⁰⁶^htt^p^://w^ww^.hr^w^.org

Choudhury’s release. Kirk was joined by 18 cosponsors when he introduced legislation calling for ⁶⁶
the charges against Choudhury to be dropped.

Relations between New Delhi and Dhaka have been strained in recent years as Indian officials
have accused Bangladesh of harboring both agents of Pakistan’s intelligence service and
separatist militants fighting the New Delhi government in India’s northeastern states, such as the ⁶⁷
All Tripura Tiger Force. Dhaka has denied the accusations as “totally baseless and
irresponsible.” Acrimony over migration issues led to periodic and lethal exchanges of gunfire ⁶⁸
between the border security forces of Bangladesh and India. Bangladesh reportedly refused a
request by India to have transit rights across Bangladesh to link with its northeastern states. With
the exception of a small corridor, Bangladesh separates India from its northeastern states.
Border incidents, including exchanges of small arms fire between Indian Border Security Force
and Bangladesh Rifles soldiers, continue to be an irritant in India-Bangladesh relations. India is
building a fence along the 4,000 kilometer border with Bangladesh to stem the flow of illegal
immigrants. India has also demanded that Bangladesh suppress separatist militants that cross the
border. India has alleged that there are some 172 insurgent bases in Bangladesh. Bangladesh has ⁶⁹
denied their existence.
Bangladesh is strategically situated between South and Southeast Asia and is located in proximity
to both India and China. Bangladesh’s natural gas deposits, estimated at between 32 trillion and ⁷⁰
80 trillion cubic feet, increase Bangladesh’s strategic importance to India and China, which may
seek to secure additional energy resources for future economic growth. Arguments in Bangladesh
against developing the gas reserves for export have focused on the need to secure a 50-year
supply of domestic energy requirements before entering the export market. It has been estimated ⁷¹
that Bangladesh’s energy needs to 2050 would require 63 trillion cubic feet of gas. Bangladesh ⁷²
and China signed a Defense Co-operation Agreement in December 2002.

⁶⁶^“^I^Am^{Not G}^u^ilt^y^,^”^The^W^a^{ll Str}^e^e^t^J^our^nal^As^ia^,^N^o^v^e^m^b^e^r^16,²⁰⁰⁶^.
⁶⁷^Su^bir^B^h^a^u^mⁱ^k^,^“A^r^m^s^A^r^r^e^s^t^s^Link^e^d^to^Iⁿ^diaⁿ^R^e^be^ls^,”^B^B^{C News}^{, J}^u^ly^{3, 20}⁰³^.
⁶⁸^“^F^rⁱ^e^ndly^N^e^ig^hbor^{, U}ⁿ^f^r^ie^ndly^A^c^ts^,^”^Hⁱ^ndu⁽^M^a^d^r^a^s⁾^{, N}^o^v^e^m^b^er²³^{, 2}⁰⁰²^{; “}^Iⁿ^d^ia^is^C^a^usⁱⁿ^g^T^r^ouble^f^o^r
^B^a^ng^la^de^s^h^,”^Inte^rna^tio^nal^He^ral^d^Trib^une^,^J^a^nua^r^y^22,²⁰^03;^“^I^nd^ia^’^s^R^e^m^a^r^k^s^{on B}^a^ng^la^de^s^h^Aⁱ^di^ng^T^e^r^r^o^rⁱ^s^t^s
^Rej^ect^ed^,^”^Xinh^{ua N}^e^w^s^A^g^eⁿ^c^y^,^No^ve^m^b^er⁸^,²⁰⁰²^.
⁶⁹^I^ndia^,^B^a^ng^la^de^s^h^T^r^oo^ps^Ex^c^h^aⁿ^g^e^B^o^r^d^e^r^Fir^e^,”^C^o^{mtex News Netwo}^r^k^{, A}^u^g^u^s^t^31,²⁰⁰⁶^aⁿ^d^“^I^ndia^U^r^g^e^s
^Ba^ng^la^de^{sh to Dism}^aⁿ^tle^A^lle^ge^{d Re}^be^{l Ca}^m^p^s,”^Do^{w Jo}ⁿ^e^{s Newswire,}^A^u^g^u^s^t^29,²⁰^06.
⁷⁰^“^I^{n a}^Mo^de^{l f}^o^r^L^e^ndingⁱⁿ^D^e^v^e^lopi^ng^N^a^tions^,^B^a^ng^la^de^s^h^B^a^nk^R^e^lie^s^on^P^e^e^r^Pr^e^s^s^u^r^e^f^o^r^C^o^lla^te^r^a^l,”^{New Yo}^rk
^Tim^e^s^,^N^o^v^e^m^b^e^r^22,²⁰⁰¹^{; “}^B^aⁿ^g^l^a^d^e^s^{h: A}^Mor^e^P^r^os^pe^r^o^us^F^u^tu^r^e^?^,^”^C^e^nte^r^f^o^r^Str^a^te^gⁱ^c^a^{nd I}ⁿ^te^rⁿ^a^tio^na^{l St}^udie^s
^Sout^{h A}^s^ia^Moni^tor^,^O^c^tobe^r^1,¹⁹⁹⁸^{; “}^W^or^{ld B}^a^nk^O^f^fⁱ^cⁱ^a^l^Say^s^B^a^ng^la^de^s^h^Sh^oul^{d Ex}^p^o^r^t^G^a^s^,^”^{BBC News}^,
^N^o^v^e^m^b^e^r^23,²⁰^01.
⁷¹^“Ban^gl^ad^esh^Eⁿ^ergy^Mⁱ^gh^t^Eⁿ^h^aⁿ^{ce Cl}^o^u^t^,^”^Str^a^tfor^,^O^c^tobe^r²²^{, 200}^1.
⁷²^“Bro^ad^Based^Def^eⁿ^s^{e Deal}^wⁱ^t^h^Chⁱⁿ^a^oⁿ^A^g^en^d^a^,^”^The^I^nde^peⁿ^d^eⁿ^t^,^Decem^b^e^{r 2}³^,²⁰⁰²^.

Figure 1. Map of Bangladesh
^Source:^{Adapted b}^y^CRS.
^B^r^u^{ce Vau}^ghn
^Sp^ecialistⁱⁿ^A^s^iaⁿ^Af^f^a^ir^s
^bv^aug^hn@^crs^.^l^o^c.g^o^v^,⁷^-³¹⁴⁴