Foundation Islamic Union
Bangladesh
Official name: People's Republic of Bangladesh (BD)
Capital city; : Dhaka
Other Important Cities: Chitagong, Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Bogra, Feridpur, Marayanganj, Kulna, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Paharpur, Mainamati, Cox's Bazar, Rangamati, Sunderbans.
Area: 147,570 km2.
Population : 167,686,000.[1] 17 per cent of the population live in cities.
Ethnicity: Bengalis make up 95 per cent of the population.
Language : The official language is Bengali.
Religion: The official religion is Islam. 86.5 per cent of the population is Muslim. The majority of Muslims are Sunni. After the Muslims, 12.2% of them are Hindus.
Geographical Situation: Bangladesh, one of the South Asian countries, is surrounded by India from the west, north and east, Burma from the southeast and the Bay of Bengal from the south. The territory of Bangladesh is in the form of a plain extending inland from the Bay of Bengal and divided by many rivers. The largest rivers are the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Meghna, Pudma, Jamuna, Karnaphuli and Surma rivers. While the abundance of rivers makes the Bengladesh plain fertile for agriculture, it also causes floods and floods every year. In addition, the swelling of the sea also causes floods from time to time. Another natural disaster that frequently disturbs the people of Bangladesh is hurricanes. 62 per cent of its land is agricultural land, 4 per cent is grassland and 15 per cent is forested. Bangladesh has a tropical climate with hot summers and mild winters.
Form of Government: Bangladesh has a multi-party democratic system. The country is governed by a constitution enacted on 16 December 1972. The head of state is popularly elected for a five-year term. The head of state appoints the prime minister according to the results of the general elections and the government is formed by the prime minister. The country has a 330-member parliament. Members of parliament are elected in a general election every five years. Ministers are also elected among the members of this parliament. Bangladesh is a member of international organisations such as the UN, the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation), the British Commonwealth, the IMF and the Islamic Development Bank.
Political Parties: National Party: It has a socialist approach. In the last general elections, it was able to win 35 seats in the parliament. Bangladesh Nationalist Party: It is a right-wing party with a liberal and conservative line. The leader of this party, which holds power in the country, is the prime minister Khaleda Zia. In the last general elections, it won 166 seats in the parliament. Awami League: Led by Sheikh Hasine Wajib, this party has a social democratic approach. In the last general elections, it won 89 seats in parliament.
History: Islam entered the territory of Bangladesh when the Turkish commander Muhammad Bahtiyar Halaji captured Bengal in 1203. Between 1203 and 1340, Bengal administration remained under the Delhi Sultanate. Bengal, which became an independent sultanate in 1340, was occupied by the Mughals in 1576. After that, it remained under the rule of the Mughals until 1757. The defeat of the sultan of Bengal, Sirājud Dawla, to the British at that time enabled the British to start a systematic oppression in the country. This resulted in the weakening of Muslims' influence in the administration of the country. In 1836, the British also changed the official language and made English the official language. From time to time, Muslims rebelled against the British occupiers, which led the British to intensify their oppression. During this period, the British held not only today's Bangladesh but also the whole Indian peninsula in their hands. The British were using every means to maintain their domination over the Muslims living in the Indian peninsula. For this purpose, they used the previous conflicts among Muslims and Hindu-Muslim conflicts to the fullest. The Indian National Congress, founded in 1885 under British patronage, began to act more in line with the wishes of Hindu leaders. Seeing this situation to their detriment, Muslims founded an organisation called All India Muslim League in 1906. This organisation held its first meeting in Dhaka, the capital of today's Bangladesh. The establishment of the state of Pakistan, independent from India, was declared. Bangladesh was also annexed to this state under the name of East Pakistan. The lands remaining in the hands of India separated these two Pakistanis from each other and cut the connection. In addition, the fact that the lands remaining in the hands of East Pakistan were especially neglected by the British occupiers led to various problems over time. There was also a dispute over the official language of the state. Because the people of East Pakistan mostly spoke Bengali and the people of West Pakistan spoke Urdu. These and similar problems led the two Pakistanis to a civil war in 1971. India also intervened in the war on the pretext that a large number of Hindus had crossed into its country. Indian intervention put the Pakistani government in a difficult situation. Therefore, Pakistani forces could not resist further and left East Pakistan alone on 16 November 1971. After this date, Indian forces, which had intervened in the war between the two Pakistanis, occupied Bangladesh, which had separated from West Pakistan, until March 1973. After the withdrawal of the Indian occupation forces, Muciburrahman was appointed as the president of the newly established Bangladesh. In contrast to the Islamic identity of Pakistan, Muciburrahman established a socialist and secular government in Bangladesh. He also signed friendship treaties with India, the Soviet Union and eastern European countries. After Mujibur Rahman tried to establish a complete dictatorship in the country, a coup was carried out against him on 20 January 1975 and he was killed. He was replaced by coup leader General Saim. However, a confusion emerged with his arrival. On 21 April 1977, Ziyaur Rahman, who had the support of the people to stand against the movement of Mujibur Rahman's supporters to take over the country again, took over the government. However, Ziyaur Rahman also continued the old socialist regime with some minor retouches and by replacing Bengali nationalism with Bangladeshi nationalism. The assassination of Ziaur Rahman by an officer on 31 May 1981 caused turmoil in the country. In elections held six months after this murder, Ziaur Rahman's deputy Abdus Settar was elected as president. Abdus Settar's term ended with the coup d'état of General Hussein Mohammad Ershad, the chief of general staff, on 24 March 1982. General Ershad declared martial law and tried to make radical changes in the country by using his military power. Although he was successful especially in his efforts to open the economy to the outside world, he could not show the same success in the innovations he wanted to realise in the field of education and culture. Ershad's rule lasted until 5 December 1990. General Hussein Mohammad Ershad, who could not stand the opposition's widespread reactions any longer and had to resign on that date, appointed Shahabeddin Ahmad, the president of the Supreme Court, as acting president. On 6 August 1991, general elections were held. After the elections, some changes were made in the political structure and the constitution. After the election, Abdur Rahman Bisvas was appointed as the president and Begum Khaleda Zia as the prime minister.
Internal Problems: Although a civilian government came to power after the free general elections held in Bangladesh in 1991, political stability could not be achieved. Therefore, many general strikes, demonstrations and rallies were organised in 1993 and 1994. Burmese Muslim refugees also bring an economic burden to the country.
External Problems: Due to the transfer of half of the river's water to another canal through the Farikka dam built by India on the Ganges River, the onset of drought in the north of Bangladesh led to a political problem and deterioration of relations between the two countries. India is also the reason for the high material and human damage in the floods that have occurred in Bangladesh in recent years. Because Northern Bangladesh was previously covered with vegetation, when the water of the rivers, especially the Ganges River, which takes its source from the Himalayas and the mountainous regions within the borders of India, started to rise, the plants in the north absorbed some of the rising water, thus the material and human damage in the south was less. However, due to drought in the north, the land in this region does not absorb the water and sends it to the south as it is, which leads to terrible disasters. India also causes social and political turmoil in Bangladesh from time to time through some people it supports financially. The fact that 250 thousand Muslims fleeing from Burmese persecution had to seek refuge in Bangladesh led to the deterioration of relations between these two countries.
Islamism in the country: The leading Islamic community in Bangladesh is the Jamaat-e-Islami, a branch of the Jamaat-e-Islami in Pakistan. This organisation supported the union and sided with Pakistan in the 1951 war for the separation of Bangladesh from Pakistan. Therefore, after the secession, Mujibur-Rahman, who became the president of Bangladesh, banned all the activities of Jamaat-e-Islami and this ban continued until 1980. However, today this organisation is spread all over the country. It has branches in all provinces and districts. It also makes its voice heard throughout the country through student associations, professional organisations, aid organisations, invitation groups, etc. It publishes books and periodicals. It organises conferences, symposiums and open forums. It has also carried out systematic relief work in natural disasters and has delivered aid to most of the victims. It has also engaged in political activities, and in the last general elections, it got 20 people into the parliament.
Leftist and racist parties attempted to enact laws to prevent Jamaat-e-Islami's activities. However, the power of the Jamaat in the society and the mass support behind it prevented them from realising their aims. Nevertheless, the government is trying to obstruct the work of the community in various ways. There are also attacks by leftist militants against the members and organisations of the community. There are also activities of the Tabligh community in Bangladesh. However, this community does not engage in political activities. Sufi orders are also common in Bangladesh.
Economy: Economy is based on agriculture. The share of income from agriculture and animal husbandry in gross domestic product is 37%. 65% of the working population is employed in agriculture. Despite this, Bangladesh is not a self-sufficient country in terms of food. Rice, wheat, legumes, oilseeds, bananas, pineapples, melons, citrus fruits and other fruits are the main agricultural products. In 1992, 28.5 million tonnes of rice and cereals, 1 million 850 thousand tonnes of ground crops, 510 thousand tonnes of legumes, 1 million 360 thousand tonnes of fruits, 1 million 400 thousand tonnes of vegetables were produced. In the same year, there were 23 million 700 thousand heads of cattle and 700 thousand heads of sheep. Fisheries are also in good condition. In 1991, 893 thousand tonnes of fish and seafood were caught, 29% from the sea and the rest from inland waters. In the same year, 179 million dollars of foreign exchange income was obtained from the export of fish and seafood. Natural gas is also extracted in Bangladesh and contributes significantly to the economy. In 1992, 5 billion 335 million m3 of natural gas was produced. Natural gas reserves in 1993 were estimated at 720 billion m3 . It also has local resources such as lignite and ceramic soil. Forestry products also make an important contribution to the economy. In 1991, 32 million m3 of logs were produced. In Bangladesh, where a socialist approach was dominant in the past, a gradual transition to a market economy started in 1982.
Currency: Bangladesh Taka.
National Income per Capita: 2,362 USD[2]
Foreign Trade: The main exports are jute, tea, leather, shrimp, fish, paper and garments. Motor vehicles and spare parts, machinery, electrical and electronic equipment, chemicals and foodstuffs are the main imports. The USA ranks first in foreign trade. Japan, Singapore, South Korea, England, Canada, Malaysia, Italy, Belgium, France and Iran follow the USA.
Industry: The most developed industries in Bangladesh are jute, textile, paper, sugar, leather, ceramics, glass, tea, cigarettes, chemicals, leather and canned food. In addition to these, there is a steel factory, a few pharmaceutical factories and small facilities for silk production. Industrial establishments are mostly concentrated around Dhaka, Narayanganj, Kulna and Chitagong. The share of income from the industrial sector in the gross domestic product is 9 per cent. 14% of the working population is employed in the industrial sector.
Energy: 91% of the electricity is obtained from thermal power plants and 9% from hydroelectric power plants.
Transport: There are 8 airports open to international traffic with scheduled flights. There are two major harbours in Chitagong and Mongla, which provide the country's sea connection with the outside world. Bangladesh has 305 ships, 193.300 km of highways, 8850 km of which are asphalted, and 4350 km of railways. Transport is also provided by rivers that weave the country like a network. On average, there is one motorised transport vehicle for 850 people.
Health: There are 900 hospitals, 21.900 doctors, 550 dentists, 27.000 nurses in Bangladesh. There is one doctor for 5255 people.
Education: Education in Bangladesh is free of charge. Primary and secondary education lasts 5 years each, baccalaureate (post-secondary education) lasts 2 years, university education lasts 4 - 5 years. There are 2500 kindergartens, 48,200 primary schools, 9750 general and 160 vocational secondary schools. 77 per cent of primary school children and 16 per cent of secondary school children can benefit from these education institutions. There are 997 higher education institutions in Bangladesh, including 9 universities, 1 higher specialised institute for post-medical education, 105 higher technical schools, 65 health vocational schools, 68 teacher training colleges. Among the young people of higher education age in Bangladesh, the rate of those enrolled in these institutions is 5 per cent. The rate of those who can read and write is 72 per cent. Between 15-24 years of age the rate is 92 per cent. There are madrasahs providing religious education. In 1991 the number of such educational institutions, called mosque schools, totalled 58,124. Christian missionary organisations have also opened many schools and educational institutions. Sixty per cent of children attend primary school, but few go on to higher education. The largest university is the University of Dhaka.
Administrative Division: It is divided into 4 administrative regions and 64 administrative units.
Recent History: Muhammad Ershad was elected president for five years in an election held on 15 October 1986. In the field of foreign policy, he resolved the issue of the Farikka Dam waters, which was the subject of dispute with India, with a treaty signed in October 1985 and tried to establish good relations with neighbouring countries, but the oppressive policy he followed at home was not accepted by the people; strikes, demonstrations and disturbances were never absent. Islam was declared the official religion in 1988. In the face of growing opposition, President Ershad resigned in 1990 and was arrested. In 1991, Begum Khaleda Ziya's National Party won the first democratic elections. Khaleda Zia became prime minister. In 1996, Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the leader of Bangladesh's 1971 independence struggle against Pakistan, became prime minister. However, Sheikh Hasina lost power to Khaleda Zia, widow of former General Zia Rahman, in 2001. This time in 2008, Sheikh Hasina regained power with a landslide victory.
[1] www.ticaret.gov.tr (accessed April 2022)
[2] www.ticaret.gov.tr (accessed April 2022)
