Bangladesh
Discover Bangladesh
The People's Republic of Bangladesh (Bengali: গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশ; romanised: Gônôprôjatôntri Bangladesh) is a country in South Asia, on the edge of the Indian subcontinent. The country is endowed with pristine beaches, numerous archaeological sites, bustling markets, numerous sites of religious importance, forests, delicious food, and more importantly, hospitable and friendly people. Bangladesh offers World Heritage Sites, historical monuments, resorts, experiences with tribal people, and wildlife of various species. Travellers looking for activities can participate in angling, water skiing, river cruising, hiking, rowing, yachting, and sea bathing.
What to Experience in Bangladesh
Taste of Bangladesh...
Bangladesh is a seafood lover's paradise. Traditionally most of the country lives off of the once-bountiful freshwater river fish, especially the officially designated "national fish" Hilsa. The Hilsa has a nice flavour but some may find the many fine bones difficult to manage; if you can master eating this fish, consider yourself on par with the locals in fish-eating and deboning expertise. Various recipes exist for cooking Hilsa, suitable for all seasons and all regions of the country. Mutton is also popular, as in most Muslim countries, as is decidedly lean or hard chicken. Rice is almost always the staple side dish. Due to Muslim beliefs, pork is a banned item in Bangladesh and is neither consumed nor sold. However it is found and consumed in non-Muslim areas. Mixed vegetable curries are plentiful - potato, eggplant, squash and tomatoes are the staple ingredients. Gourds, tubers and certain root vegetables are common. In the major cities (Dhaka, Chittagong, etc.), you will find a larger variety of vegetables than in rural areas. The idea of salad varies from the international standard. In Bangladesh, salad has not been extensively developed, and "kacha" (raw) vegetables are generally not deemed very appetizing or palatable (with the exception of cucumbers), especially in more rural or suburban areas and in less Westernized households. Traditionally, most salad vegetables (carrots, celery, lettuce, paprika, etc.
Culture & Religion
Religion
Islam is Bangladesh's state religion, but the right to religious freedom is vigorously defended in the country's constitution. The form of Islam practised by the majority of Bangladeshis is generally moderate and they are accepting of non-Muslims. Secular viewpoints are not uncommon. A large minority also follows Hinduism and the culture of Hindus is very similar to that of the neighbouring Indian state of West Bengal. Electricity is 220 Volts at 50 Hertz. There are three types of electrical outlets likely to be found in Bangladesh — the old British standard BS 546, the newer British standard BS 1363 and the European standard CEE-7/16 "Europlug". It's wise to pack adapters for all three. Most men wear shirts and trousers or slacks. Or they wear punjabis (kurtas). Most women wear either a sari or a salwar kameez. Back in the day, the custom was that an unmarried girl would wear a salwar kameez and a married woman would wear a sari to signify that she is married.
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Bangladesh into what it is today.
The country's history goes as far back as 1500 BC, the Chalcolithic period, and the area has long been known as a melting pot of various cultures and civilisations. Islam came to South Asia some time around the 8th century, and during the 11th century, almost everyone peacefully converted to Islam. Later, Bangladesh became part of the British Raj. In the 1940s, India was partitioned into two states: Pakistan, a separate homeland for Muslims in South Asia, and India. Princely states were given three choices: join India, join Pakistan, or be independent. It was during this time when Bengal was partitioned into two separate territories. Muslim-majority East Bengal became a part of Pakistan, during which it was referred to as "East Pakistan", whereas the Hindu-majority West Bengal became a part of India. Although it was believed that the Bengalis would be well-integrated in Pakistan, relations between the Pakistani government and the ethnic Bengalis became increasingly strained. Bengali was not recognised as an official language and was outright banned, Urdu was imposed upon the Bengalis, ethnic discrimination against Bengalis was common, and along with the physical separation, there was simply no compatibility whatsoever between the two. When Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, widely known as the "founding father" of Bangladesh, was elected Prime Minister of Pakistan, he was barred from taking office and this led to widespread discontent....
Climate
Bangladesh has a sub-tropical monsoon climate. There are six seasons in a year: winter (Dec–Jan), spring (Feb–Mar), summer (Apr–May), monsoon (June–July), autumn (Aug–Sep) and late autumn (Oct–Nov). The average temperature across the country usually ranges between 20°C and 30°C in the winter and between 21°C and 34°C during summer months. Annual rainfall varies from 160 cm to 200 cm in the west, 200 cm to 400 cm in the south-east and 250 cm to 400 cm in the north-east. Cyclones above category three or four are uncommon (especially in the deep winter January through March) – but can still bring widespread disruption to infrastructure and power outages, especially in the coastal areas. It is recommended that you do not travel in the southern part of the country (Khulna, Bagerhat, Chittagong, Cox's Bazar) if a cyclone warning is in effect. In summer, try to wear loose fitting cotton clothing as it's so humid.
Essential Information
Best Time to Visit
Oct – Aprbest time to visit is October to April....
Getting There
Multiple OptionsMost foreigners require some kind of valid visa to enter Bangladesh, though many are eligible for a 30-day visa on arrival (see section below). It's often recommended to instead apply for a visa in advance if possible, even if you're eligible for a visa on arrival (VOA), because it leaves you less at the mercy of border officials, who could decline your VOA on a whim and ruin your whole trip as soon as you fly into Dhaka. However, this kind of denial seems to be uncommon – at least in the experience of Western tourists. Depending on the details though, an advance visa may also be useful for staying in the country longer or getting permission for multiple entries. The procedure to obtain a visa in advance is to first obtain an Invitation Letter from a tour company in Bangladesh or, in case of business travellers, obtain a business appointment or an invitation from a company in Bangladesh. Then submit an online visa application at the Bangladesh government website (Visa.Gov....
Regions
Explore AreasThere are eight administrative divisions in Bangladesh. For travel purposes, some of these divisions are grouped into bigger regions. On land it is nearly completely surrounded by India, but it also h…...
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Air travel in Bangladesh is very affordable and convenient. There are airports in all of the division capitals as well as Jessore, Cox's Bazar and some other small cities. The national carrier is Biman Bangladesh Airlines. It is commonly known as Biman locally. Most of the domestic airports are served by either Biman Bangladesh Airlines or their private competitors. As of 2019, Novoair, Regent Airways and US-Bangla Airlines are the main private airlines offering excellent domestic and international flights. Novoair is the latest airline to join the club and has Embraer jet aircraft giving very short flight times. Most of the other private operators use either Bombardier DASH-8 or Boeing aircraft. Improvements to the national trunk road network mean that domestic air travel is declining as of 2025. There are quite a few helicopter services available for hire in Bangladesh for transportation, tourism, medical evacuation (Medevac) or film-footage services.
Where to Stay
There's a broad range of hotels in the country. These range from economy and low budget hotels costing US $5 per night (sometimes filthy and reluctant to take foreigners) up to 5-star hotels. Multiple international hotel chains operate their luxury hotels in all the major cities of Bangladesh. A few examples include Radisson Hotels, InterContinental Hotels, Marriott International Hotels and Pan Pacific Hotels & Resorts. Dial 999 from any Bangladeshi mobile phone number or landline for police, fire or ambulance in case of any emergency. Bangladesh is a country full of friendly and open-minded people. But some people may find ways to exploit a foreigner or tourist. See common scams and pickpockets for some of their methods. Apply common sense precautions, such as not walking around unnecessarily or alone after dark in abandoned alleys. Also, if you do find yourself in trouble, create some noise and draw the attention of others who are almost certain to come to your aid.
Money & Budget
The currency of Bangladesh is the Bangladeshi taka, denoted by the symbol "Tk" or "৳" (ISO code: BDT). Wikivoyage uses Tk to denote the currency. One taka is divided into 100 poysha. Coins in Bangladesh are issued in denominations of ৳1, ৳2 and ৳5. Banknotes in Bangladesh are issued in denominations of ৳2, ৳5, ৳10, ৳20, ৳50, ৳100, ৳200, ৳500 and ৳1,000. The updated exchange rate can be found in the official website of Bangladesh Bank. Foreign currency can be exchanged at any money exchange shop or bank in Bangladesh. Some hotels will also accept foreign currency but their exchange rates will be poor. Money exchange shops offer the best exchange rates followed by banks. Most establishments will not accept foreign currency as payment.
Language & Talk
The national and official language of the country is Bengali (Bangla), which is written in its own script. It is a member of the Indo-Aryan language family like Hindi and Urdu. Bengali grammar is fairly regular (nouns are not gendered, the language has few to no exceptions), but the most difficult aspect of the language is the script. Bengali has up to hundreds of consonant clusters, which can be difficult to comprehend and write. Although Bangladesh was once a part of the British Empire, the use of English in the country has decreased dramatically since the 1980s. Its use is now restricted to members of the well-educated upper class. Having a solid knowledge of Bengali is essential for the independent traveller, as many Bangladeshis are not proficient in English.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Dial 999 from any Bangladeshi mobile phone number or landline for police, fire or ambulance in case of any emergency. Bangladesh is a country full of friendly and open-minded people. But some people may find ways to exploit a foreigner or tourist. See common scams and pickpockets for some of their methods. Apply common sense precautions, such as not walking around unnecessarily or alone after dark in abandoned alleys. Also, if you do find yourself in trouble, create some noise and draw the attention of others who are almost certain to come to your aid. Foreigners, particularly Caucasian, will for the most part be safe when walking around city streets as you will undoubtedly be watched by multiple curious locals at any one time. When in a crowd or travelling by rickshaw, CNG (auto-rickshaw) or bus, be careful to keep valuables close at hand and away from pickpockets.
Glimpses of Bangladesh
MUSTARD CROP FIELD
A fishing boat waiting for the tide to sail.
Heritage Of Bangladesh
Hill Resort Bangladesh
Green wallpaper
Sundarbans The Land of Silence
Buriganga River in Dhaka, Bangladesh. March 2024. SOOC JPEG.
man in white shirt and brown shorts riding brown boat on body of water during daytime
brown building during daytime
A Look Down Aerial view Of Hatirjheel Lake Bridge at Dusk; Dhaka, Bangladesh.
MUSTARD CROP FIELD
A fishing boat waiting for the tide to sail.
Heritage Of Bangladesh