The poorest country on earth

Bangladesh is the poorest country in the world. The estimated population of Bangladesh is 161,083,804 as of July 2012. This small country's area is 55,598 square miles. and is the tenth most populous country in the world.  More then 49 percent of the people in Bangladesh live below the poverty line. In addition malnutrition is up 48 percent among children. In America more then 16% live below the poverty line.

Bangladesh faces many challenges such as poverty, corruption, overpopulation and the constant climate change makes it a difficult place to live. According to an article I read by "the telegraph" Dhaka Bangladesh is the worst city in the world to live.
It is also to be said as the most underdeveloped country with over 75 million people.

Dhaka in the capital city of Bangladesh and most people have migrated to Dkaha from more rural areas, therefore increasing the population density. This stresses important resources such as food, water, health care, sanitation and education. Many Bangladeshi's can't afford to live in houses very long so they're forced to live in bustees.
 A bustee is a name for a shanty town or slum in India or Bangladesh. These slums are on the outskirts of Dhaka and they lack basic needs such as, electricity, sewage disposal, and supply of clean water.
Without these needs there is a high risk of  disease leading to higher death rates.

With so many people migrating to the city from rural areas this results in more traffic. More traffic results in congestion problems and exhaust fumes causes air pollution. With over population and an under developed economy the government cannot afford to improve transportation.

Due to the country's geographical location, flooding occurs often. It is a big tragedy when it does flood,  shacks are often washed away. In order to rebuild shacks they have to borrow money from moneylenders, thus putting them further into debt. Natural disasters also cause outbreaks of diseases like, cholera, diarrhea and malaria. This effects their physical health which lowers their ability to be productive and thrive under such difficult conditions.

When thinking about Bangladesh its easy to focus too much on the sickness, un-employment and illiteracy of this country and feel like there's no hope. Several articles I've read have said that the only way to help this country is to, provide access to birth control and abortifacients. Of course many articles have suggested that the solution to every third world country is to reduce the birth rate.  I think one of the best solutions would be to raise the literacy rate thus educating more women and raising their statuses. I'm not saying that education is the only way to solve Bangladesh's problems, I'm saying that if you educate everybody you'll make a difference.

I have learned so much about Bangladesh and I'd like to go and serve there someday.