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Updated June 22, 2020
Bangladesh
Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) is a Muslim-majority
nation in South Asia, bordering India and Burma on the
Bay of Bengal. It is the world's eighth most populous
country, with approximately 163 million people living in a
land area about the size of Iowa. It is a relatively poor
nation suffering from high levels of corruption. In recent
years, its democratic system has faced an array of
challenges, including political violence, weak governance,
poverty, demographic and environmental strains, and
Islamist militancy.
Bangladesh is a parliamentary democracy. The currently-
ruling Awami League (AL) and the main opposition
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) dominate national
politics. When in opposition, both parties have at times
used demonstrations, labor strikes, and transport blockades,
as well as the ballot box to regain control of government.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been in office since
2009. Her AL party won its third consecutive term in
December 2018. The next parliamentary elections are due
in 2023. Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia of the BNP
was convicted of graft and embezzlement in 2018 and
imprisoned, then released in March 2020 for six months due
to poor health.
The Coronavirus pandemic is having a significant economic
as well as health impact on Bangladesh. The country's
economy is projected to grow by 1.6% in 2020, down from
8.2% in 2019, due to increasing unemployment resulting
from the nationwide lockdown implemented to thwart the
spread of the Coronavirus. Overseas remittances, which
normally account for about 7% of Bangladesh's GDP, are
expected to decrease significantly.
Ri the United States
The United States has long-standing and supportive
relations with Bangladesh, and generally views Bangladesh
as a moderate voice in the Islamic world. In relations with
Dhaka, recent U.S. Administrations, along with many
Members of Congress, have focused on issues relating to
Rohingya refugees, economic development, humanitarian
concerns, labor rights, human rights, good governance, and
counterterrorism. The rise of Islamist militancy has been a
cause of concern for the United States, as well as for
Bangladesh's government. Despite a robust governmental
response, terrorist attacks remain a threat to political
stability in Bangladesh. The United States and Bangladesh
hold annual bilateral Partnership Dialogues and Security
Dialogues, and have developed a cooperative relationship
over the years to meet shared concerns. The United States is
among Bangladesh's largest export markets. The United
States became the fourth-largest investor in Bangladesh in
2019 while China emerged as the leading foreign investor
in Bangladesh. Many Members of Congress contend that
Figure I. Bangladesh in Brief
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Source: CIA World Factbook, Economist Intelligence Unit.
supporting democracy, rule of law, and human rights in the
Indo-Pacific region, including in Bangladesh, is critical to
advancing U.S. interests.
Approximately one million ethnic Rohingya facing
persecution in Burma have fled to Bangladesh, putting
immense pressure on local communities and testing the
Dhaka government's ability to provide adequate security,
food, and sanitation. The predominantly Muslim Rohingya
have faced persecution in Buddhist-majority Burma for
years. Burma views the Rohingya as illegal immigrants
from Bangladesh. Bangladesh has criticized Burma for
failure to take meaningful steps to repatriate the Rohingya.
Bangladesh reportedly has plans to relocate over 100,000
Rohingya to Bhashan Char, a low-lying remote island in the
Bay of Bengal. Human rights advocates have pointed out
that the isolated island lacks services and is vulnerable to
sea level rise and storm surges.
Many analysts and policymnakers contend that human rights
and religious freedom are under threat in Bangladesh. In
2020 the Department of State highlighted a number of
concerns with Bangladesh, including unlawful or arbitrary
killings; forced disappearance; torture; arbitrary or unlawful
detentions by the government or on its behalf, [and stated]
There were reports of widespread impunity for security
force abuses. There reportedly were an estimated 300
1crossfire killings, a euphemism for extrajudicial killings,
in Bangladesh in 2019. Security forces are rarely held
accountable for such deaths. The constitution of Bangladesh
recognizes Islam as the state religion, but Bangladesh also
officially upholds principles of secularism. Despite
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