Agriculture plays a vital role in Bangladesh's economy and society. It accounts for approximately 16% of GDP and employs around 40% of the labor force. Rice is the main crop and staple food of Bangladesh. The agricultural sector supplies raw materials to various industries and is a major source of wealth in terms of land assets. It also contributes significantly to international and domestic trade. Despite the growth of other sectors, agriculture remains very important for employment, poverty reduction, and ensuring food security in Bangladesh.

1. UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF AGRICULTURE IN
BANGLADESH
Farhana Binte Hussain
Id:200151026

2. Bangladesh Agriculture at a glance
 Total farm holding : 1,51,83,183 hectares
 Total area : 14.86 million hectares
 Forest : 2.599 million hectare
 Cultivable land : 8.52 million hectares
 Cultivable waste : 0.268 million hectares
 Current fallow land : 0.469 million hectares
 Cropping intensity : 191%
 Single cropped area : 2.236 million hectares
 Double cropped area : 4.107 million hectares
 Triple cropped area : 1.485 million hectares
 Net cropped area : 7.837 million hectares
 Total cropped area : 14.943 million hectares

3. Importance of Agriculture
 Share in National Income : About one forth of Bangladesh’s GDP depends
on agriculture sector.
 Share in Employment : Agriculture is the largest employment provider
sector in Bangladesh. It provides employment to around 48% of the total
labor force.
 Industrial Raw Materials : Agriculture supplies industrial raw material in
terns of cotton for textile industry, seeds for oil industry, sugarcane for sugar
industry.
 Wealth of nation: Large part of the country’s wealth belongs to agriculture
sector. In terms of land, fixed assets etc.
 Contribution to International trade & Domestic Trade

4. Importance of Agriculture
 Agriculture is the single largest producing sector of economy since it
comprises about 30% of the country's GDP and employing around 60% of
the total labor force.
 The performance of this sector has an overwhelming impact on major
macroeconomic objectives like employment generation, poverty alleviation,
human resources development and food security.
 Meeting the nation's food requirements remain the key- objective of the
government and in recent years there has been substantial increase in grain
production.

5. Role of Agriculture in Economic Development of
Bangladesh
• According to a 2017 study by BRAC’s research and evaluation division, a 1
percent rise in agricultural income has the potential to reduce poverty by
0.39 percent when keeping other factors constant. This is compared to the
0.11 percent reduction contributed by non-agricultural income.
• Bangladesh is facing a shortage of labor in the agricultural sector. This is
due to the growth in the industrial and service sectors in the economy
over the years. Between 1971 and 2018, value added to GDP from the
service sector increased from 34.2 percent to 56.1 percent. Comparatively,
value added to GDP from the industrial sector was almost double, from
13.2 percent to 27.2 percent. The share of agriculture in GDP decreased
from 62 percent to 16.3 percent from 1975 to 2018.

6. Role of Agriculture in Economic Development of
Bangladesh
• However, it should be noted that the agriculture of Bangladesh mainly consists of
crops. This has not declined much with the share of crops, only decreasing from 73
to 68 (out of 100) from 1971-80 to 2011-18.
• Most of the growth in the service sector stems from the marketing and processing
of agricultural goods. This is primarily due to increased commercialization and
diversification of the agricultural sector. As a result, an estimated 10 percent
increase in agricultural income leads to a 6 percent rise in non-agricultural income.
This reveals agriculture to be a catalyst in Bangladesh’s economic growth.

7. Bangladesh’s ICT Sector: A new driver of
economic growth
Ahtesham Billah Shawon
ID: 200151026

8. Bangladesh’s ICT Sector
• Bangladesh is one of the fastest-growing economies in South Asia. According to the World
Bank 2019 report, Bangladesh is among the five fastest-growing economies in the world.
Furthermore, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has indicated that the economy of
Bangladesh should grow at a rate of 7.3% this year, which is the second-highest in the world
after Rwanda. Being the most attractive investment destination in South Asia, Bangladesh
experienced a record level of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow in the country last year,
topping the list in South Asia.

9. Digital Bangladesh
• Since “Digital Bangladesh” is an integral part of the present government’s
Vision 2021, the country is committed to achieving substantial progress in the
ICT sector, making “Digital Bangladesh” a reality.
• Having four key priorities and well-timed policies, the present government is
fostering and shaping a new Bangladesh, transforming the agro-based
country into a digital Bangladesh.

10. The success of Bangladesh’s ICT sector
• Bangladesh is now exporting software and IT related products to more than 50 countries
across the globe. Moreover, the number of countries availing IT services from
Bangladesh is increasing gradually. According to BASIS report, Bangladesh has earned
$800 million in the year of 2017 by exporting ICT products and services. This
tremendous success in the ICT sector has become possible by means of some judicious
and progressive steps taken by the present government and the stakeholders of the ICT
sector.
Source: Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS)

11. Bangladesh: A home of IT outsourcing
The rapid digitalization of Bangladesh, including easy internet access in the urban areas and
some inclusive government and non-government initiatives to promote freelancing, have
contributed to the recent growth of freelancing activities in the country. As a result,
Bangladesh has already become the second-largest country in supplying online labour,
according to the Oxford Internet Institute (OII). About 500,000 active freelancers are
regularly working out of 650,000 registered freelancers in the country, making $100 million
annually, according to the ICT Division of Bangladesh.
According to present data, India
is the largest supplier of online
labour which is close to 24% of
total freelancing workers,
followed by Bangladesh (16%)
and the US (12%). Different kinds
of freelancing services are
provided by different countries.
For instance, while the
technology and software
development category is ruled
by the Indian freelancers, sales
and marketing support services
are dominated by Bangladeshi
freelancers.

12. The main catalysts for growth
 Some of the key achievement for Digital Bangladesh:
• 8.5 million students learning from multimedia content developed by 100,000 teachers
• 105 digital talking textbooks for all visually disabled students
• 103 innovations incubated through Service Innovation Fund
• $28.15 million earnings for Digital Center Entrepreneurs
The usage of digital technology is creating countless opportunities for Bangladeshi youth,
accelerating economic growth and social welfare. The ICT sector has a market of 160
million-plus people, where consumer spending is around USD 130 billion-plus and
growing at 6 percent annually. Therefore, Bangladesh has a great prospect in the ICT
industry. The recent boom in the sector, therefore, indicates that Bangladesh is going to
harness the full growth opportunities of digital technologies and catch up faster with high-
income countries.

13. THE ROLE OF TOURISM IN BANGLADESH
Sadia Afrin Promy
ID:200151028

14. Maximum 37ºC Minimum
08ºC 160 million
147500 sq. km.
: 16 December
1971
• The largest delta in the world
• An evergreen country
• Capital: Dhaka
• Official Language: Bangla
• English widely spoken
• Frontiers with India and Myanmar
• Time: GMT +06:00 Hrs.
• Temperature:
• Total Population:
• Population density: 926 sq-km
• Coastal Population:35.08 million
• Offshore Islands: 72 Islands
• Area :
• Independence
• Father of the Nation: Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
• Head of the government: H.E. Sheikh
Hasina, Prime Minister
• Per capita GDP: USD 1450
• GDP growth rate : Above 6%
B A N G L A D E SH

15. Visit Bangladesh Campaign

16. Tourist Spots in Bangladesh
• Jaflong: Jaflong is one of the best natural tourist spot in Sylhet. It is situated at the border
between Bangladesh and the Indian state of Meghalaya. It is takes two hours to drive.
Tourist can learn something from the lifestyle of Tribe Khasia in Jaflong.
• Ratargul: Ratargul is a fresh water swamp forest situated in Sylhet by the river of Goain.
The water comes here from the adjacent Goain River. The flavor of Amazon forest is
available there.
• Madhabkunda waterfall: This is one of the largest waterfalls in Bangladesh. It is situated
in Moulvibazar District. On the way visitors can see the greenish beauty of tea garden and
the hills. Rubber and lemon plantations form a beautiful landscape.
• Satchari National Park: This Park is in Habiganj District. Wildlife in this park is rich.
• Bisanakandi: Bisanakandi is situated at Bangladesh-India border in Sylhet. It is a
landscape beauty among gardens and hills. Winter is not a suitable time to visit Bisnakandi
due to mechanised mining and stone-laden boats and lorries. tourism in bangladesh
• Srimongal: Srimongal is famous for the largest tea gardens of world. Most of the tea
estates are in Srimongal. It is called “The land of two leaves and a bud”. It is known as the
tea capital in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI) and Tea Museum are
functioning there.
• Lawacherra Rain Forest: Well-reserved forests in Bangladesh. Prime attraction of this
forest is rare Chloroform tree of Asia. It is like “A Piece of Paradise”.
• Patenga Sea Beaches: It is about 22 km. from Chittagong city. Besides the sea beach, you
can enjoy boating and river cruise in the River Karnaphuli.

17. Tourist Spots in Bangladesh
• Cox’s Bazar: World longest (120 km long) beach .Winter is the season to visit the Cox’s
Bazar.
• St. Martins Island: St. Martins Island is the most beautiful Coral Island.
• Lalmai, Moinamoti and Shalbon Bihar: They are famous historical and archeological
places around Comilla city.
• Rangamati: If you don’t visit Rangamati you will unable to discover a big portion of
natural beauties of Bangladesh.
• Khagrachari: Khagrachhari is the natural wild beauty of Bangladesh. Here visitor can visit
the tribal lifestyle.
• Kaptai Lake: Built in early sixties Kaptai Dam and the lake are the main attractions of
Kaptai.
• Bandarban: Chimbuk hill is one of the major attractions of Bandarban.
• Ahsan Manzil: Ahsan Manzil was a residential palace for Dhaka Nawab Family.
• Shaheed Minar: The Shaheed Minar is a national monument in Dhaka.
• Jatiyo Smritisoudho: Jatiyo Sritishoudho is the symbol in the memory of sacrifice of all
those who gave their lives in the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971.
• Jatiya Sangshad Bahavan: It has been used for the Bangladesh National Assembly.
• Sundarban: The Sundarban is the world largest tidal mangrove forest. The Sundarbans
cover approximately 10,000 square kilometers, of which 60 percent is in Bangladesh with
the remainder in India. The Sundarbans is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Kuakata: Kuakata is a panoramic sea beach located in the Patuakhali district. Kuakata has
a wide sandy beach from where one can see both the sunrise and sunset.

18. DOMESTIC TOURISM
 Domestic tourists spent an estimated Tk 74,959.2 crore.
 Some 44.30 per cent of households reported to have embarked on at
least one same-day trip with an average of 2.72 participants.
INBOUND TOURISM
• Around 16.4 lakh tourists visited Bangladesh in 2018-19. Some
80.28 per cent were non-resident Bangladeshis while the rest
foreigners.
• Most (72 per cent) preferred air travel and the rest over land.
• The highest expenditure (23.78 per cent) was attributable to food
and beverage serving services, followed by accommodation
services (18.39 per cent) and road passenger transport services
(17.4 per cent).
• This segment spent Tk 23,780.3 crore, a majority of which (82.38
per cent) was by non-resident Bangladeshi

19. Tourism’s Contribution in Economy of Bangladesh
Tourism's contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated at 3.02 per cent
by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).
In local currency, this amounts to Tk 76,690.7 crore. The sector also accounted for 8.07
per cent of total employment, which was based on the data of the fiscal year of 2018-19.
It is forecasted to rise by 6.5% per annum to 4.7% of GDP by 2024. Notable that, total
contribution consists of direct, indirect and induced contribution.

21. • Travel and Tourism generated 1,328,500 jobs directly in 2013 and this is forecasted to grow
by 4.0% in 2014. This includes employment by hotels, airlines, travel agents and other
passenger transportation services. It will increase by 2.7% per annum on average over the
next ten years. The total contribution of Travel and Tourism to employment was 2.8% of total
employment in 2013. This is forecasted to rise to 3.9% of total employment in 2014. By 2024,
travel and tourism are forecasted to support 4.2% of total employment.

22. Visitor exports are a key component of the direct contribution of travel and
tourism .Visitor spend a good sum of money during their stay in the country.
Spending on food, travels, and hotel are included in the visitor exports category.
In 2013, Bangladesh generated BDT 8.3 billion in visitor exports. In 2014, this is
expected to grow by 7.1%. By 2024, international tourist arrivals are forecasted
to 611,000 generating expenditure of BDT 15.5 billion .Travel and Tourism’s
contribution to total national investment will rise from 1.5% in 2014 to 1.6% in
2024.

23. Conclusion and Recommendations
Now Bangladesh is low-middle income country. The economy is highly dependent on
work force export, Ready Made Garments (RMG) and agriculture sector. Other
prominent sectors are shipbuilding, pharmaceuticals etc. The rate of employment is 90
%, which is below expected level. As a result, disguised employment and employment
at low wage rate is rising. Many of the people are illegally crossing border in the hope
of better life. In order to improve employment rate and to stop the illegal migration,
government has to take and implement some projects and policies, through this, it has
to try to receive the social, cultural and economic benefits of the tourism sector. As
part of tourism sector development, recently government has passed the Cox’s Bazaar
Development Authority (CDA) at the meeting of ministry. This is supportable but not
enough. The government of Bangladesh should place equal emphasis in its policy on
the development of the tourist spots all over the country. This will create employment
opportunity on the one hand and on the other hand it reduces the dependence of the
country on some other specific sectors.