Bangladesh: Difference between revisions

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* Poverty rates fell from '''80% in 1971''' to '''18.7% in 2022'''.

* Its '''Human Development Index''' grew rapidly, second only to China in the 21st century.

* It became a '''global leader in green manufacturing''', hosting the world’s largest number of certified green factories.

=== Geography ===

Bangladesh is located in '''South Asia''', along the northern coast of the '''Bay of Bengal'''. It is almost completely surrounded by '''India''', sharing only a small border with '''Myanmar''' in the southeast. Although it does not directly border '''Nepal''', '''Bhutan''', or '''China''', the country lies very close to them. Geographically, Bangladesh is divided into three main regions. The largest portion of the country is covered by the '''Ganges Delta''', which is the biggest river delta in the world and one of the most fertile regions on Earth. The '''Madhupur''' and '''Barind Plateaus''' occupy parts of the northwest and central areas, while the '''northeast and southeast''' are home to evergreen hill ranges and rolling hills. Bangladesh is often called the '''“Land of Rivers”''' because it has more than '''57 trans-boundary rivers''', more than any other country in the world. The Ganges (known locally as Padma), the Brahmaputra (Jamuna), and the Meghna Rivers meet to form this vast delta system before flowing into the Bay of Bengal. Being downstream of India, the sharing and management of river water often involves '''political complexities'''.

The country’s landscape is mostly '''low and flat''', with most areas less than '''12 meters (39 feet)''' above sea level. Because of this low elevation, a '''one-meter rise in sea level''' could flood around '''10% of the country'''. About '''12% of Bangladesh''' is made up of hill systems, and the '''haor wetlands''' in the northeast are globally significant for environmental research and biodiversity. The '''highest point in the country''' is '''Saka Haphong''', with an elevation of 1,064 meters (3,491 feet), located near the Myanmar border. In the past, '''Keokradong''' or '''Tazing Dong''' were mistakenly considered the highest peaks. '''Forest cover''' in Bangladesh is around '''14%''' of the total land area. In 2020, the country had about 1.88 million hectares of forest, with most of it naturally regenerating and a smaller portion made up of planted forest. No primary forests were recorded, but around '''33% of the forest area''' falls within protected zones. Nearly all forest land is under '''public ownership'''.

=== Climate ===

Bangladesh lies '''along the Tropic of Cancer''', giving it a '''tropical climate''' characterized by three distinct seasons: a '''mild winter''' from October to March, a '''hot and humid summer''' from March to June, and a '''rainy monsoon season''' from June to October. The country has never recorded a temperature below 0 °C (32 °F); the lowest temperature ever recorded was '''1.1 °C (34 °F)''' in '''Dinajpur''' on 3 February 1905. The monsoon brings the majority of the country’s rainfall, which plays a crucial role in agriculture but also contributes to annual natural disasters. Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to '''natural calamities''', including floods, tropical cyclones, tornadoes, and tidal bores, which occur almost every year. These disasters are often intensified by environmental issues such as deforestation, soil erosion, and land degradation. Among the most catastrophic events were the '''cyclones of 1970 and 1991''', with the latter killing about '''140,000 people'''. In September 1998, the country experienced its '''worst flood in modern history''', submerging nearly '''two-thirds of the land''' and resulting in over 1,000 deaths.

Over time, national and international disaster risk reduction initiatives have helped reduce the '''human and economic toll''' of such events. However, severe disasters still occur. For example, during the '''2007 South Asian floods''', approximately '''five million people''' were displaced and '''around 500 people''' lost their lives. These challenges are worsened by '''climate change''', which continues to increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events across the country.

=== Climate Change ===

Bangladesh is considered '''one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world'''. Over the past century, '''508 cyclones''' have struck the Bay of Bengal region, and about '''17%''' of them have made landfall in Bangladesh. Rising '''sea levels''', increased '''rainfall''', and more frequent and intense '''tropical cyclones''' pose serious threats to the country’s agriculture, food and water security, human health, and housing. According to estimates, a '''three-foot rise in sea level by 2050''' could submerge nearly '''20% of the country’s land''' and '''displace over 30 million people''', making climate-induced migration a major national and regional concern. To address these growing threats, Bangladesh has launched the '''Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100''', a long-term strategy designed to protect the country’s land, people, and economy from the impacts of climate change.

@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 * Poverty rates fell from '''80% in 1971''' to '''18.7% in 2022'''.
 * Its '''Human Development Index''' grew rapidly, second only to China in the 21st century.
 * It became a '''global leader in green manufacturing''', hosting the world’s largest number of certified green factories.
+=== Geography ===
+Bangladesh is located in '''South Asia''', along the northern coast of the '''Bay of Bengal'''. It is almost completely surrounded by '''India''', sharing only a small border with '''Myanmar''' in the southeast. Although it does not directly border '''Nepal''', '''Bhutan''', or '''China''', the country lies very close to them. Geographically, Bangladesh is divided into three main regions. The largest portion of the country is covered by the '''Ganges Delta''', which is the biggest river delta in the world and one of the most fertile regions on Earth. The '''Madhupur''' and '''Barind Plateaus''' occupy parts of the northwest and central areas, while the '''northeast and southeast''' are home to evergreen hill ranges and rolling hills. Bangladesh is often called the '''“Land of Rivers”''' because it has more than '''57 trans-boundary rivers''', more than any other country in the world. The Ganges (known locally as Padma), the Brahmaputra (Jamuna), and the Meghna Rivers meet to form this vast delta system before flowing into the Bay of Bengal. Being downstream of India, the sharing and management of river water often involves '''political complexities'''.
+The country’s landscape is mostly '''low and flat''', with most areas less than '''12 meters (39 feet)''' above sea level. Because of this low elevation, a '''one-meter rise in sea level''' could flood around '''10% of the country'''. About '''12% of Bangladesh''' is made up of hill systems, and the '''haor wetlands''' in the northeast are globally significant for environmental research and biodiversity. The '''highest point in the country''' is '''Saka Haphong''', with an elevation of 1,064 meters (3,491 feet), located near the Myanmar border. In the past, '''Keokradong''' or '''Tazing Dong''' were mistakenly considered the highest peaks. '''Forest cover''' in Bangladesh is around '''14%''' of the total land area. In 2020, the country had about 1.88 million hectares of forest, with most of it naturally regenerating and a smaller portion made up of planted forest. No primary forests were recorded, but around '''33% of the forest area''' falls within protected zones. Nearly all forest land is under '''public ownership'''.
+=== Climate ===
+Bangladesh lies '''along the Tropic of Cancer''', giving it a '''tropical climate''' characterized by three distinct seasons: a '''mild winter''' from October to March, a '''hot and humid summer''' from March to June, and a '''rainy monsoon season''' from June to October. The country has never recorded a temperature below 0 °C (32 °F); the lowest temperature ever recorded was '''1.1 °C (34 °F)''' in '''Dinajpur''' on 3 February 1905. The monsoon brings the majority of the country’s rainfall, which plays a crucial role in agriculture but also contributes to annual natural disasters. Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to '''natural calamities''', including floods, tropical cyclones, tornadoes, and tidal bores, which occur almost every year. These disasters are often intensified by environmental issues such as deforestation, soil erosion, and land degradation. Among the most catastrophic events were the '''cyclones of 1970 and 1991''', with the latter killing about '''140,000 people'''. In September 1998, the country experienced its '''worst flood in modern history''', submerging nearly '''two-thirds of the land''' and resulting in over 1,000 deaths.
+Over time, national and international disaster risk reduction initiatives have helped reduce the '''human and economic toll''' of such events. However, severe disasters still occur. For example, during the '''2007 South Asian floods''', approximately '''five million people''' were displaced and '''around 500 people''' lost their lives. These challenges are worsened by '''climate change''', which continues to increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events across the country.
+=== Climate Change ===
+Bangladesh is considered '''one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world'''. Over the past century, '''508 cyclones''' have struck the Bay of Bengal region, and about '''17%''' of them have made landfall in Bangladesh. Rising '''sea levels''', increased '''rainfall''', and more frequent and intense '''tropical cyclones''' pose serious threats to the country’s agriculture, food and water security, human health, and housing. According to estimates, a '''three-foot rise in sea level by 2050''' could submerge nearly '''20% of the country’s land''' and '''displace over 30 million people''', making climate-induced migration a major national and regional concern. To address these growing threats, Bangladesh has launched the '''Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100''', a long-term strategy designed to protect the country’s land, people, and economy from the impacts of climate change.