<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: Bangladesh<nl>Economy</hdr><body>
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<item><hi format=bold>Overview:</hi> Bangladesh is one of the world's poorest, most densely populated, and least developed nations. Its economy is overwhelmingly agricultural, with the cultivation of rice the single most important activity in the economy. Major impediments to growth include frequent cyclones and floods, government interference with the economy, a rapidly growing labor force that cannot be absorbed by agriculture, a low level of industrialization, failure to fully exploit energy resources (natural gas), and inefficient and inadequate power supplies. Excellent rice crops and expansion of the export garment industry helped growth in FY92 and FY93. Policy reforms intended to reduce government regulation of private industry and promote public-sector efficiency have been announced but are being implemented only slowly.
<item><hi format=bold>National product:</hi> GDP—purchasing power equivalent—$122 billion (1993 est.)
<item><hi format=bold>National product real growth rate:</hi> 4.3% (FY93)
<item><hi format=bold>National product per capita:</hi> $1,000 (1993 est.)
<item><hi format=bold>Agriculture:</hi> accounts for 33% of GDP, 65% of employment, and one-fifth of exports; world's largest exporter of jute; commercial products—jute, rice, wheat, tea, sugarcane, potatoes, beef, milk, poultry; shortages include wheat, vegetable oils, cotton
<item><hi format=bold>Illicit drugs:</hi> transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries
<item><hi format=bold>Economic aid:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>recipient:</hi> US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $3.4 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89), $11.65 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $6.52 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $1.5 billion
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<item><hi format=bold>Currency:</hi> 1 taka (Tk)=100 poiska
<item><hi format=bold>Exchange rates:</hi> taka (Tk) per US$1—40.064 (January 1994), 39.567 (1993), 38.951 (1992), 36.596 (1991), 34.569 (1990), 32.270 (1989)
<item><hi format=bold>Fiscal year:</hi> 1 July–30 June