Asian Development Bank and Bangladesh: Fact Sheet

Abstract

Updated yearly, this ADB Fact Sheet provides social and economic indicators on the Bangladesh as well as concise information on ADB's operations in the country and contact information. Bangladesh has made major progress in recent years, with sustained macroeconomic stability, improved health and education, gender parity in primary and secondary education, and a steady decline in poverty levels. Despite these improvements, maternal and child mortality rates remain high and the quality of education remain poor, with gender discrimination continuing in many areas. Government revenues, at just 11.2% of gross domestic product, are still far too low to meet the growing demand for infrastructure and social services. Poor infrastructure, weak governance, and limited access to finance make the cost of doing business high. The Multifibre Arrangement was phased out in 2005, but the country’s important garment industry is more constrained by infrastructure problems associated with ports, roads, rail, and power supply than by inadequate trade access.