Debt - external:
$16.5 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
$1.575 billion (2000 est.)
Currency:
taka (BDT)
Currency code:
BDT
Exchange rates:
taka per US dollar - 57.89 (2002), 55.81 (2001), 52.14 (2000),
49.09 (1999), 46.91 (1998)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Bangladesh
Telephones - main lines in use:
500,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
283,000 (2000)
Telephone system:
general assessment: totally inadequate for a modern country
domestic: modernizing; introducing digital systems; trunk systems
include VHF and UHF microwave radio relay links, and some
fiber-optic cable in cities
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean);
international radiotelephone communications and landline service to
neighboring countries (2000)