Overview

Bangladesh (pop. 157,659,000; GDP/cap US$439) is situated between India and Burma in Southeast Asia.

For the fifth straight year, Bangladesh has topped the most corrupt countries list. In Transparency International’s 2005 Corruption Perceptions Index, Bangladesh ties with Chad in hitting the top slot.

Bangladesh is the 7th most populous country in the world, and its population density 1,061 people per square kilometer is the highest of any developing country.

Regulation impedes foreign investment. Starting a business in Bangladesh is difficult. Foreigners often find that ministries require unnecessary licenses and permissions. Land registration records are unreliable. Real property is not well-protected. In spite of all this, the government encourages real estate investors to develop flats and condos instead of individual houses, most especially in the city, because of scarcity of land.