Travel to Bangladesh

Bangladesh: travel information

National currency

The national currency of Bangladesh is the

Taka = 100 Poisha.

Bank opening times

Monday to Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Thursday: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Friday closed

Shop

Shop opening times

Monday to Thursday, Saturday and Sunday: 9

a.m. – 8 p.m. Friday: 9 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. and 2 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Some shops are closed on Fridays.

Inexpensive or country-specific goods, souvenirs

In Bangladesh you can buy beautiful fabrics and silk as well as saris. Bamboo goods, mother-of-pearl jewelry, pearls, leather, wood and wicker are also typical articles for the country.

Tourist office

Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation

(National Tourism Organization)

83-88, Mohakhali Commercial Area

Dhaka – 1212

Tel: 00 880 – 2 – 88 33 229

00 880 – 2 – 88 34 600

Fax: 00 880 – 2 – 88 33 900

E-mail: info @ bangladeshtourism.gov. or also: bdinfo@parjatan.gov

Bangladesh: entry and exit regulations

Formalities, visas

German, Austrian and Swiss citizens need a passport that is valid for at least three months and a visa to enter Bangladesh. Children’s ID cards are usually recognized, and children traveling with you are sometimes listed on the visa note in the parents’ passport. It is not possible to obtain the short stay visa upon arrival at Dhaka International Airport. When entering Bangladesh by air, a “Route Changes Permission” from the Department of Passports and Immigration in Dhaka (Agargaon) is required for a later exit by land (and vice versa).

The following is responsible for issuing visas in Germany:

Visa department of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Dovestrasse 110587 BerlinTel: +49 (0) 30-39 89 75-0Fax: +49 (0) 30-39 89 75 10

Departure fee

Since mid-March 2003, foreigners have to pay a travel tax of 2,500 Bangladeshi Taka when leaving Europe, plus an airport fee of currently 300 Taka. When leaving for other countries in South Asia, the travel tax is 800 Taka. These amounts are usually paid by the issuing travel agency when the ticket is purchased and are noted accordingly on the ticket. Otherwise, travelers will pay the amount due when checking in directly at the counter of their airline. Transit passengers staying in Bangladesh for up to 72 hours and children under the age of two are exempt from the aforementioned fees. When purchasing flight tickets in Bangladesh, a newly introduced tax of 10 US dollars is paid.

Import and export of foreign currency

  • Local currencyThe import and export of local currency is permitted up to 100 taka.
  • Foreigncurrencies Foreign currencies can be imported up to an amount of US $ 1,000. There is an obligation to declare amounts over US $ 150. The export of amounts up to US $ 150 or the declared amount is permitted.

Import and export of goods

The import of flammable liquids or chemicals, weapons and ammunition of any kind is only permitted with an import permit from the Bangladeshi Interior Ministry. Non-Muslims are allowed to import two bottles of alcoholic beverages. Two cartons of cigarettes can be imported duty-free. The importation and possession of drugs are strictly prohibited. The import and possession of any kind of pornography is strictly prohibited. Gold, silver and other precious stones and jewelry are notifiable and duty-bound, a maximum of 10kg each may be imported. Since 2004 import bans have been issued for certain motor vehicles. Vehicles over four years old are not allowed to be imported into Bangladesh. More recent vehicles may only be imported from the original country of manufacture.

Bangladesh: Transportation

How to get to Bangladesh

Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BG) is the national Bengali airline. There are flight connections from Frankfurt/M., Vienna, Zurich, London, Paris, Brussels or Rome. Flights to Bangladesh are also offered by the following airlines: Aeroflot, British Airways, Emirates, Gulf Air, Indian Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines, Royal Nepal Airlines, Saudi Airways, Singapore Airlines, Swiss and Thai Airways.

The airport fee is Tk 300. Children under two years of age and transit travelers who continue their journey on the same day with the next flight are excluded.

Dhakas International Airport is Zia Airport, which is about 20 km north of the city center (journey time about 45 minutes). This impressive airport houses a taxi rank, a rental car counter, restaurants, banks and a duty free shop.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines buses run to the city every hour between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Departures to the airport are possible from the old Tejgaon airport building and from the Golden Gate and Zakaria hotels. Parjatan buses are also available, offering city tours and various excursions.

On arrival you are besieged by many young men who work with taxi drivers and bring them the customers. Although there are fixed prices, these are usually negotiated with the taxi drivers. However, it is advisable to either call a taxi (Capital cabs 935 2847) or – which is much cheaper – run up to the main street and stop a (baby) taxi there.

Travel in the country

Air connections Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BG), Aero Bengal Airlines, Air Parabat and GMG Airlines connect the capital Dhaka with the other major cities in Bangladesh. Domestic flights are very inexpensive and are offered about 2 to 3 times a week. They fly to all major cities in the country (e.g. Barisal, Chittagong, Jessore).

Railway

The country’s rail network has a total length of 2,800 km and connects all major cities with Dhaka. Due to the geographical situation, rails cannot be laid everywhere, so river ferries connect the individual rail routes. Trains are rather slow and not very comfortable, but they are quite punctual. The railway system has been modernized in recent years.

Several trains run daily on the main line (from Dhaka to Chittagong), some of them with air-conditioned cars. Night journeys should be avoided, as trains have often been ambushed, especially in the east of the country.

The main train station is Kamlapur Station in Montijheel. Buying tickets is easy and there are long departure schedules in English too. Express trains go to all major cities.

Bus

The main traffic routes have a total length of around 10,400 km, of which around 4,000 km are paved roads. Every village in the country can be approached, although the journeys can sometimes take a long time. Buses connect all major cities with each other and offer little comfort at low prices. However, it is very messy and confusing.

The Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation buses operate in Dhaka itself. The central bus station is on Station Road (Fulbaria). Long-distance buses, in particular, stop at the other bus stations. The signs on the buses and the stops are mostly in the local language (the numbers are also in Bangla) and the buses are completely overcrowded, so that getting off between the main stops is difficult.

Roads

The main traffic routes have a total length of around 10,400 km, of which around 4,000 km are paved. Border crossings between Bangladesh and India exist at Benopol, Chiliharti and Tamabil-Dawki. Heavy monsoon rains often make the roads impassable in summer. Any town in the country can be reached by car. There is left-hand traffic.

Car traffic

In Dhaka, a foreign driver needs an International Driving License (IDL). Independent driving with a (rented) car is not recommended in Dhaka, whose traffic is one of the worst in the world and especially between 5pm and 8pm it becomes unimaginable. Orientation is also made difficult by the fact that main roads are known by the areas they pass through, not by their official names. Side streets and lanes tend to have the same names as the main streets nearby. In the event of an accident, the culprit in Dhaka (and Bangladesh in general) has the custom to leave the scene of the accident, which is due to the poor judiciary and the fact that the person who caused the accident is often attacked by angry observers.

Rental

cars Rental cars can be rented at the airport, the tourist office and in major hotels. An international driver’s license is required. A better option is to rent a car with a driver, which is inexpensive and safe. Many companies in Dhaka rent cars with drivers. The best include the Dhaka Tours Rent-A-Car Association (966 3134; 3 Link Road) and Hertz (988 4311; cnr Road 14 and Kemal Ataturk Ave). It should be noted that for overnight trips outside the city, accommodation and food must be paid for by the driver.

Ferry connections

Ferries from Myanmar and India go to the southern coastal cities of Bangladesh, the main ports being Chittagong and Mongla. Ferries run between the coastal towns in the south and the Ganges Delta. Ferry boats also operate from and to Dhaka.

On July 9, 2003 the ferry “Nasrin 1” sank, which had more than 750 and possibly even more than 1,000 people on board and was on the way from Dhaka to Bhola near the city of Chandpur. Only around 150 people were able to save themselves or were saved.

Boat and ferry

main berth for boats and ferries in and to Dhaka is the Sadarghat Boat terminal in the Ahsanullah Road. A (low) entrance fee is charged for entering this chaotic place. Badam Tali on Buckland Road Bund is also important. At both landing stages you can board the famous “Rocket” ferries (paddle-wheel), which can be booked in 1st and 2nd class, whereby 1st class is recommended for foreigners. You drive the particularly beautiful route to Khulna (27 to 30 hours) every day (except Sundays) at 6 p.m. Tickets are available from:

Tel: 955 9779 and 891 4771

Address: Motijheel, near Dilkusha Circle I

Opening times: Sun-Wed: until 5 p.m./Thursday until 2 p.m./Fri closed.

Boat tours are offered, for example, by Contic (881 4851; House 183, Road 69, Gulshan II; mail@contic.com), who have elegant boats and go along the Turaq River in the west of the city to the Buriganga River. Guide Tours (988 6983; 1st St. Darpan Complex, DIT II Circle, Gulshan) also offers tours.

Furthermore, there are many private providers along the river that drive short distances (from Dhaka to Bandura, Srinigar etc.) and long distances (Barisal, Chandpur etc.). Short trips are made during the day, long-distance trips at night

Taxis

Taxis are ubiquitous in Dhaka and are best ordered from Capital cabs (935 2847) or simply hailing on the street. They are equipped with a taximeter, even if you do not always use it. There are two types of “normal” taxis in Dhaka: the yellow (clean, large, expensive) and the black (smaller and cheaper).

A special type of taxi are the so-called baby taxis (three-wheeled auto rickshaws, also known as Tempo), of which there are around 10,000 in the city. While it is very interesting and fun to travel this way, and there is also a taximeter, it can get very loud and crowded. The drivers’ lack of English is often another problem.

Rickshaws

Rickshas are a good substitute for the cheaper but mostly overcrowded buses, are ideal for visiting the sights of the city and come in two forms in Dhaka (as in the whole of Bangladesh):

The most common are bicycle rickshas (three-wheeled bicycles), of which there are around 600,000 in Dhaka. They are ubiquitous, inexpensive, and easy to stop on the road. They are not necessarily slower than other vehicles because they are the only ones able to pass the stationary vehicles in a traffic jam. However, they are narrow, open and expose the passengers to the noise, the smog of the city and the curious looks of the Bangladeshi.

There are also baby taxis (see Taxis).

Both rickshaws have in common that prices have to be negotiated and the drivers usually do not understand English (except in front of the large hotels), so that there can often be confusion, especially since the street naming in Dhaka is complicated: the drivers usually only know the main streets a little the area name they pass through rather than their official name. Side streets usually have the same names as the main streets nearby. Confusion can be avoided by only telling the driver the area or the direct location.

International license plate

According to Abbreviationfinder, The international license plate of Bangladesh is:

BD

Bangladesh: Travel Medicine and Risks

Infectious Diseases

In Bangladesh, the following infectious diseases are to be expected in Germany and Central and Northern Europe:

  • Malaria: There is a year-round risk of malaria in the country. In Dhaka, however, there is only a very low residual risk. Between 40% and 50% of the infections occur with the very dangerous malaria tropica, the rest with malaria tertiana.
  • Amoebic dysentery
  • Bacterial agitation
  • Cholera – but there is only a risk of infection for travelers who come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.
  • Dengue fever disease
  • Intestinal infections from contaminated food or water, including amoebas, lamblia, salmonella, shigella, worm infestation and all kinds of viruses and bacteria
  • Filariasis
  • Hepatitis A and B
  • Japanese encephalitis
  • Lambliasis
  • Kala Azar
  • Polio, polio
  • tetanus
  • Rabies – there is a particularly high risk of becoming infected with rabies, especially due to the numerous stray dogs.
  • Typhoid – however, there is only a risk of infection for travelers who come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.

Recommended vaccinations

when traveling to Bangladesh are recommended vaccinations against the following diseases:

  • Cholera – but among travelers who can come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.
  • Diphtheria – a vaccination against diphtheria should always exist, also in the home country.
  • Hepatitis A and B – vaccination against hepatitis B is only necessary for people who may come into contact with blood or for those who are looking for sexual contact.
  • Japanese encephalitis
  • Polio, polio – vaccination against polio should always exist, also in the home country.
  • Tetanus – a vaccination against tetanus should always exist, also in the home country.
  • Rabies – especially in high-risk travelers who can come into contact with the vector animals.
  • Typhoid – but only for travelers who can come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.

Malaria prophylaxis

When traveling in the country, it is strongly advised to undergo malaria prophylaxis. However, if the side effects seem questionable to you, you should at least have a “stand-by preparation” with you.

Compulsory vaccination

As already mentioned above, there is a compulsory vaccination against an illness with yellow fever for all persons who are older than 1 year and who come from a yellow fever infection area designated by the WHO.

safety instructions

Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany

Citizens’ Service

Telephone: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 2000

Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 51000

Current warning notices:

www.auswaertiges-amt.de

Bangladesh: Embassies and Consulates

Visit Countryaah for a full list of Bangladesh embassies and consulates in each country around the world.

German representations in Bangladesh

Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Dhaka

Gulshan Avenue 178

1212 Dhaka

PO Box 6126

Gulshan I, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh

Tel: 00 880 – 2 – 885 35 21

E-Mail: info@dhaka.diplo.de

www.dhaka.diplo.de

Honorary Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany

MM Ispahani Ltd., Ispahani Building Sk. Mujib Road Agrabad

Chittagong, Bangladesh

Tel: 00 880 – 31 – 71 02 64

00 880 – 31 – 71 61 53-6

E-Mail: shakir@ispahanibd.com

Austrian representations in Bangladesh

The embassy in India is responsible .

Austrian Honorary Consulate in Dhaka

Safura Tower, 5th Floor, 20 Kemal Ataturk Avenue

Banani, Dhaka – 1213

Tel: 00 880 – (0) 2 – 986 17 07

00 880 – (0) 2 – 986 17 08

Fax: 00 880 – (0) 2 – 989 08 36

Email: austriancon@quasemgroup.com

Representations of Bangladesh in Austria

The embassy in Berlin is responsible

Consulate

The Honorary Consulate General of Bangladesh is temporarily closed.

Swiss representations in Bangladesh

Swiss Embassy in Dhaka

Embassy of Switzerland

Road 18, House 31-B, Banani

Dhaka 1213

Tel: 00 880 – 2 – 881 28 74/-75/-76

Representations of Bangladesh in Switzerland

The responsible embassy is the embassy in Belgium in Brussels.

Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh in Brussels

Rue Jacques Jordaens 29/31

1050 Brussels

Tel: 0032 – 2 – 640 55 00

0032 – 2 – 640 56 06

Consulate of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh in Geneva

Rue de Lausanne 65

1202 Geneva

Tel: 0041 – (0) 22 – 906 80 20

Travel to Bangladesh