Bangladesh is a small country but one of the most densely populated nations in the world. The population has more than doubled in the 35 years since liberation and is estimated at over 140 million in 2007. The capital, Dhaka, has a population of 15 million. Although traditionally rural, Bangladesh society is undergoing rapid change. The role of women in economic and social activities has improved over time making a major contribution to poverty reduction. Despite poor initial conditions and high vulnerability to natural disasters, Bangladesh has largely overcome its food security problems and achieved a steady economic growth. However, poverty remains dauntingly high. Bangladesh's Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) has identified employment generation as one of the core strategic priorities and this has highlighted the need to significantly enhance the policy focus on improving skills at all levels of the labour market.
Additional Resources:
Unicef Bangladesh
Millennium Development Goals - Implementation of the millennium Declaration in Bangladesh
AusAID
VIDA
Bangladesh Ministry of Education
Bangladesh Encyclopedia