Bangladesh At a Glance

Bangladesh at a Glance

MACRO ECONOMY

• GDP growth: @6.44% on average during 2009-17 (highest this year 7.86%)
• Per Capita Income: US$1,751 in FY2017-18 (Three times higher than $543 in FY06)
• Inflation rate: 5.44% in FY 2016-2017 (lower than 6.60% in 1994)
• Export Earnings:  US$34.02 billion in 2016-17 (Growth @ 4.44%)
• Remittance:   US$ 12.77 billion in the FY 2016-17
• Foreign Reserve: US$33.41 billion at 30 June 2017
• National Savings: Increased to 31.23% of GDP in FY2017-18
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): Almost tripled to US$2 billion during this period.
• Budget Size: US$ 50 billion for the FY 2017-18 (5.2 times larger than FY06).

ACHIEVEMENTS IN MDGs AND TAKING ACTION FOR SDGs

• Reduction of Headcount Poverty: Down from 38.4% in 2006 to 21.8% in 2018.
• Reduction of Extreme Poverty Rate: Down from 24.2% in 2006 to 11.3% in 2018.
• Infant mortality: Dropped from 45 in 2006 to 28 in 2016 (per 1000 live births).
• Maternal mortality: Decreased from 3.37 in 2006 to 1.78 in 2016 (per 1000).
• Equitable access in education (NER: 97.7 percent), reduction of dropouts.
• Sustainable Development Goals are in tandem with ‘Vision-2021’ and ‘Vision-2041.
• Bangladesh integrated the 2030 Agenda in its 7th FYP (2016-2020).
• ‘Whole of Society’ approach to ensure wider participation of NGOs, development partners, private sector, media and CSOs in the process of formulation of the Action Plan and implementation of the SDGs.
• SDGs Implementation and Monitoring Committee’ formed under the Prime Minister’s Office to facilitate and implementation of SDGs Action Plan.

SOCIAL SECURITY

• Budget allocation is now 2.3% of the GDP, a rise from 1.96% of the GDP in 2008-09.
• Number of social security schemes is 145 in 2017, an increase from 11 in 2006.

SUCCESSES IN HEALTH SECTOR

• Bangladesh has set the target to attain universal health care by 2032.
• Per capita health expenditure is US$30.83 in 2014, an increase from $16 in 2000.
• Life expectancy has gone up to 71.6 years (2016).
• Over 16,400 community clinics to enhance basic health care at the grassroots level.
• 30,000 satellite clinics for maternal and child healthcare around the country.
• High vaccination coverage (EPI) globally acclaimed for reducing child mortality.
• Innovation and technology based digitalized healthcare increased accessibility to health service via mobile phone, telemedicine service, hospital automation, online population health registry and digital training facility for health care professionals.

POWER GENERATION

• Government has set a target to ensure electricity for all by 2021.
• Electricity generation stands 15,379 MW in FY17 from 5245 MW in FY06 (per capita generation from 220 kwh to 407 kwh). Target is 24,000 MW by 2021.
• Electricity coverage is 78% which was less than 50% ten years ago.
• Government is aiming for 7 solar parks to be implemented by IPPS connecting to the national grid (2.76% of total electricity generation is from renewable sources).
• More than 4.5 million solar home systems have been installed in the rural areas bringing electricity at the doorsteps of 20 million people living in the off-grid areas.
• Government has set a target to produce 10% power from renewable energy source by 2021.

ENERGY VISION

• Bangladesh is presently trying to replace its dependence on natural gas with Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and LNG.
• Imported Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is expected to constitute 17% of total gas supply by 2019 and 70% by 2041.
• Currently, Bangladeshi, Indian and US companies are working on 3 LNG offshore terminals. A land-based LNG terminal is expected to commence operation in 2027.

ONGOING MEGA PROJECTS

• Padma Multipurpose Bridge: Largest state funded project worth US$3.65 bn.
• Rooppur Nuclear Plant: Capacity 2,400 MW and worth US$12.65 bn.
• Rampal Power Plant: Capacity 1,300 MW, coal-based power plant worth US$1.6 bn.
• Payra Deep Sea Port: Country’s third sea port scheduled to be operational by 2018.
• Matarbari Power Project and Sea Port: A complete power hub with capacity of 1,200 MW, scheduled to be completed by 2022.
• Dhaka Metro Rail: Capacity to transport over 60,000 passengers/hour by 2019.
• Dhaka Elevated Expressway: 47.6 km long and connecting key points in Dhaka.
• Dhaka Cox’s Bazar Railway Link: Direct rail connectivity to the popular tourist city with capital
• Dhaka Ashulia Elevated Expressway: Worth US$1.67 bn to improve communication with the northern part of Bangladesh.

PROGRESS TOWARDS DIGITAL BANGLADESH

• Internet Users: 1.5 million (2006), 73 million (2017); 45% internet penetration and 20% having fixed-broadband.
• Mobile Users: 20 million (2006), 136 million (2017); 90% teledensity.
• Total size of the ICT market in Bangladesh was merely $26 million in 2008 which now reached $600 million.
• A total of 5,275 digital centres have been set up across the country that are making digital services affordable and available at local level.
• ”Bangladesh, a shining example of digital technology used for delivering financial services to the poor” (Bill Gates)

SPACE TECHNOLOGY

• Bangladesh entered into the space age with the launching of its first satellite Bangabandhu Satellite-1 which is expected to be launched into space on 11 May 2018.

ECONOMIC ZONES

• Bangladesh is setting up 100 economic zones along with allocated special economic zones exclusively for China, India and Japan.
• Bangladesh has eight fully operational export processing zones (EPZs).

ACCOLADES FOR BANGLADESH

• ICT Award to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2011
• UN South-South Cooperation Visionary Award to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2014.
• UNEP’s highest environmental accolade, ‘Champion of The Earth’ to Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2015.
• ICT Sustainable Development Award to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2015
• UN FAO ‘Achievement Award’ to Bangladesh in 2015
• UN recognised Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as ‘Planet 50-50 Champion’ 2016.
• Agent of Change Award to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2016.
• Hon’ble Prime Minister- is one of ‘world’s 100 leading global thinkers’, 13 top ‘decision makers’ (Foreign Policy Magazine).
• Hon’ble Prime Minister was awarded with two international awards -the IPS International Achievement Award and the 2018 Special Distinction Award for Leadership- for her humanitarian and responsible policy in hosting the Rohingyas and for her farsighted leadership over the Rohingya issue by The Inter Press Service and Global Hope Coalition respectively.