BANGLADESH - FACTS AND FIGURES

For more informatin try this web site:
Bangladesh Online

Area: 147,570 km2

Population: 117,787,000 (1994 est.)

Capital: Dhaka

System of Government: Constitutional Republic

Head of State: Shahabuddin Ahmed

Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina Wajed

Key Government Ministers: Abdus Samad Azad, Minister of Foreign Affairs, S.A.M.S. Kibria, Minister of Finance, Tofael Ahmed, Minister of Commerce and Industry.

Language: Bangla (Bengali) 98%

Literacy Rate: 38.1%

Ethnic Background: 98% Bengali, English, Urdu; 250,000 Biharis, under 1 mn, tribal.

Currency: C$ 1.00 = 31.65 taka (as of June 2, 1997)

A business meeting in Bangladesh...

• When men of Bangladesh greet a Western man they will shake hands. Women, on the other hand will be greeted with only a nod of the head.
• In keeping with the Middle Eastern custom, never eat with the left hand, since it is expected to only be used for purposes of bodily hygiene.
• The "thumbs up" gesture, which we use as a symbol of approval, is considered obscene in Bangladesh.
• Because of the large population in Bangladesh, pushing and shoving in crowds is not considered impolite.