Country name
conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh
conventional short form: Bangladesh
former : East Pakistan

Data code BG

Government type republic

National capital Dhaka

Administrative divisions 4 divisions; Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi
note: there may be two new divisions named Barisal and Sylhet

Independence 16 December 1971 (from Pakistan)

National holiday Independence Day, 26 March (1971)

Constitution 4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended following coupof 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986, amended many times

Legal system based on English common law

Suffrage 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
chief of state: President Shahabuddin AHMED (since 9 October 1996); note - the president'sduties are normally ceremonial, but with the 13th amendment to the constitution("Caretaker Government Amendment"), the president's role becomes significantat times when Parliament is dissolved and a caretaker government is installed- at presidential direction - to supervise the elections
head of government: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina WAJED (since 23 June 1996)
cabinet : Cabinet selected by the prime minister and appointed by the president
elections: president elected by National Parliament for a five-year term; electionlast held 24 July 1996 (next to be held by NA October 2001); following legislativeelections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats is usually appointedprime minister by the president
election results : Shahabuddin AHMED elected president without opposition; percent of NationalParliament vote - NA

Legislative branch unicameral National Parliament or Jatiya Sangsad (330 seats; 300 electedby popular vote from single territorial constituencies, 30 seats reservedfor women; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 12 June 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party - AL 33.87%, BNP 30.87%; seats by party - AL178, BNP 113, JP 33, JI 3, other 2, election still to be held 1; note - the elections of 12 June 1996 brought to power an Awami League government forthe first time in twenty-one years; held under a neutral, caretaker administration,the elections were characterized by a peaceful, orderly process and massivevoter turnout, ending a bitter two-year impasse between the former BNP andopposition parties that had paralyzed National Parliament and led to widespreadstreet violence

Judicial branch Supreme Court, the Chief Justices and other judges are appointed bythe president

Political parties and leaders Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Khaleda ZIAur RAHMAN; Awami League(AL), Sheikh Hasina WAJED; Jatiyo Party (JP), Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD; Jamaat-E-Islami(JI), Motiur Rahman NIZAMI; Bangladesh Communist Party (BCP), Saifuddin AhmedMANIK

International organization participation AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM,IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UNTAES,UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Khwaja Mohammad SHEHABUDDIN
chancery: 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone : [1] (202) 342-8372 through 8376
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador David N. MERRILL
embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212
mailing address : G.P.O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000
telephone: [880] (2) 884700 through 884722
FAX: [880] (2) 883-744

Flag description green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of center; greenis the traditional color of Islam

NOTE: The information regarding Bangladesh on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Bangladesh Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Bangladesh Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.