ief Justices and other
judges are appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders: Bangladesh Nationalist Party or

International organization participation: AsDB, C, CCC, CP,
ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM, OIC,
OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH,
UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Khwaja Mohammad SHEHABUDDIN
chancery: 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John C. HOLZMAN
embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212
mailing address: G.P.O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000

Flag description: green with a large red disk slightly to the
hoist side of center; the red sun of freedom represents the blood
shed to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the lush
countryside, and secondarily, the traditional color of Islam

Economy

Economy--overview: Despite sustained domestic and international
efforts to improve economic and demographic prospects, Bangladesh
remains one of the world's poorest, most densely populated, and
least developed nations. The economy is largely agricultural, with
the cultivation of rice the single most important activity in the
economy. Major impediments to growth include frequent cyclones and
floods, the inefficiency of state-owned enterprises, a rapidly
growing labor force that cannot be absorbed by agriculture, delays
in exploiting energy resources (natural gas), inadequate power
supplies, and slow implementation of economic reforms. Prime
Minister Sheikh HASINA Wajed's Awami League government has made some
headway improving the climate for foreign investors and liberalizing
the capital markets; for example, it has negotiated with foreign
firms for oil and gas exploration, better countrywide distribution
of cooking gas, and the construction of natural gas pipelines and
power plants. Progress on other economic reforms has been halting
because of opposition from the bureaucracy, public sector unions,
and other vested interest groups. Severe floods, lasting from July
t