Asian Development Bank and Bangladesh : Fact Sheet

Abstract

Updated yearly, this ADB Fact Sheet provides social and economic indicators on Bangladesh as well as concise information on ADB's operations in the country and contact information. Bangladesh has made major socioeconomic progress in recent years. The country has sustained macroeconomic stability; health and education have improved; there is gender parity in primary and secondary education; and poverty has declined steadily. However, maternal and child mortality rates are still high; and despite overall improvement, the quality of education is still poor and gender discrimination in many areas continues. Government revenues, at only 10.3% of gross domestic product, remain far too low to meet growing demand for infrastructure and social services. Poor infrastructure, weak governance, and limited access to finance make the cost of doing business high. After the phaseout of the Multifibre Arrangement (MFA) in 2005, the important garment industry is now constrained more by poor infrastructure—including ports, roads, rail, and power supply—than by inadequate trade access. These are the main development challenges facing the country.