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1 [1] (February 2, 2021)

handle is hein.crs/govecda0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Bangladesh Updated February 2, 2021 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 165 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 serious challenges, including political violence, weak governance, poverty, demographic and environmental strains, and Islamist militancy. Bangladesh is a parliamentary democracy. The ruling Awami League (AL) and 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. AL Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has held office since 2009, won her third consecutive term in December 2018. The next parliamentary elections are due in 2023. BNP leader and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was convicted of graft and embezzlement in 2018 and imprisoned. She was released for six months in March 2020 due to poor health. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is having a significant impact on Bangladesh. The country's economy is projected to grow by 5.2% in 2020, down from 8.2% in 2019, due to increasing unemployment resulting from the nationwide lockdown implemented to thwart the spread of COVID-19. Overseas remittances in 2020 have done much to help the economy. Bangladesh reportedly purchased 30 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine and has begun administering vaccinations. Relations with 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 from Burma, 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 it is 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. At the 2019 Partnership Dialogue the two governments reaffirmed their enduring partnership, highlighting close cooperation on security, development, humanitarian Figure I. Bangladesh in Brief Source: CIA World Factbook, Economist Intelligence Unit, media. assistance and disaster relief, and counterterrorism. The United States also recognizes Bangladesh's role as one of the world's largest contributors of troops to U.N. peacekeeping operations. The United States is among Bangladesh's largest export markets and became the fourth- largest investor in Bangladesh in 2018, while China emerged as the leading foreign investor in Bangladesh. Many Members of Congress contend that supporting democracy, rule of law, and human rights in the Indo- Pacific region, including in Bangladesh, is critical to advancing U.S. interests. Rohingya 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. Hopes for repatriation of the Rohingya to Burma were reportedly further diminished by the February 2021 military coup in Burma. Bangladesh began relocating Rohingya from existing camps in Bangladesh to Bhashan Char, a low- lying remote island in the Bay of Bengal, in December 2020. Bangladesh reportedly plans to relocate 100,000 Rohingya to Bhansar Char. Human rights advocates warn that the isolated island is vulnerable to sea level rise and storm surges. ittps://crsreports.congress.gc

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