About Bangladesh

Travel documents: Tickets

Compared with India, fares to Bangladesh aren’t very cheap and, if you don’t mind the hassle of obtaining an Indian visa, a cheaper way of entering the country is often by coming overland from Kolkata (you’ll need to leave via this route as well). Buying a one-way ticket out of Bangladesh is very expensive – go to India first! There are many good travel agents in Dhaka.

Entering the country

To enter Bangladesh you will need a passport that’s valid for at least six months beyond the duration of your stay, an onward/return ticket and a visa. Rules and procedures for entering and exiting Bangladesh seem to be in a constant state of flux. For many years it hasn’t been possible to obtain a visa on arrival at the airport, though there are rumors that some people had recently managed to wrangle visas on arrival. Despite this promising move, it’s still best to play it safe and make sure you arrive with a visa and your passport in order.

If you are exiting by land but you entered by air, a ‘change of route’ permit is required. Note that Bangladesh currently refuses entry to Israeli passport holders.
Airports & airlines

There are three international airports in Bangladesh. Osmani International (ZYL) in Sylhet, Patenga (CGP) in Chittagong and Zia International Airport (DAC) in Dhaka. Zia International Airport (02-819 4350) is the busiest of the three. Located 12km north of the city centre, on the road to Uttara, it doesn’t have ‘gateway to the world’ written on it, but it does have a bank, some duty-free shops and a couple of restaurants.

For a long time Bangladesh had only one major airline, Biman. The US Federal Aviation Administration has classified Biman as category two, which means that it is not in absolute compliance with international aviation safety standards. They run domestic flights between Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet, and internationally throughout South and Southeast Asia and occasionally even to Europe. Privately run GMG Airlines is a newer, brighter and better option. It links Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Cox’s Bazaar, Barisal and Jessore, but internationally it only serves South and Southeast Asia. GMG has just been joined by United Airways, which runs an almost identical service, in equally good planes, as GMG. In 2007 two new airlines, funded by British and Bangladeshi businessmen, took to the skies. These are Best Air and Royal Bengal. At the time of writing it seemed that both were offering very limited internal services, and the much-hyped London–Bangladesh route seems to have quietly vanished from the advertising hype.

Airlines flying to and from Bangladesh:

Biman (BG; 02-956 0151; www. Bimanair.com; hub Zia International Airport, Dhaka)

British Airways (BA; 02-881 5111; www.britishairways.com; hub Heathrow Airport, London)

Dragon Air (KA; 02-881 8782; www.dragonair.com; hub Hong Kong International Airport)

Druk Air (Bhutan Airlines; KB; 02-891 1066; www.drukair.com.bt; hub Paro Airport)

Emirates (EK; 02-989 2801; www.emirates.com; hub Dubai International Airport)

Etihad Airways (ETD; 02-883 1258; www.etihadairways.com; hub Abu Dhabi Airport)

GMG Airlines (Z5; 02-882 5845; www.gmgairlines.com; hub Zia International Airport, Dhaka)

Gulf Air (GF; 02-811 3237; www.gulfairco.com; hub Bahrain Airport)

Indian Airlines (IC; 02-955 5915; www.indian-airlines.nic.in; hub Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi)

Malaysia Airlines (MH; 02-988 8211; www.malaysiaairlines.com; hub Kuala Lumpur International Airport)

Pakistan International Airways (PK; 02-934 9293; www.piac.com.pk; hub Quaid-e-Azam International Airport, Karachi)

Qatar Airlines (QR; 02-955 6491; www.qatarairways.com; hub Doha Airport)

Singapore Airlines (SQ; 02-881 1504; www.singaporeair.com; hub Changi Airport)

Thai International (TG; 02-813 4711-18; www.thaiair.com; hub Bangkok International Airport)

United Airways (02-893 2338; www.uabdl.com; hub Zia International Airport)

Asia

There are flights to/from all nearby Asian countries except Myanmar. Most connections are direct to Dhaka’s Zia International Airport, except for Biman flights between Chittagong and India or Thailand. During hajj (the pilgrimage to Mecca), airlines usually increase their services so that it is even possible to fly directly out of Sylhet.

Bhutan

Druk Air offers the only service between Dhaka and Paro, and the fare is high (US$190/380 one way/return). There are only two flights a week. If the schedule isn’t convenient, you could fly to Paro via Kolkata, using Druk Air and Biman; connections are good and the cost is only marginally more.

India

GMG has frequent daily flights between Dhaka and Kolkata and slightly less frequent flights to Delhi. There are also connections between Chittagong and Kolkata several times a week.
From India expect to pay around US$65/115 for a one-way/return flight from Kolkata or US$235/470 from Delhi to Dhaka.

Myanmar

To fly to Myanmar you will need to go via Thailand or India.

Nepal

There are daily flights between Dhaka and Kathmandu with GMG. The flight takes 65 minutes and the one-way fare is around US$110.

Thailand

Thai Airlines, GMG and Druk Air fly from Bangkok to Dhaka. Thai Airlines has flights every day, as does GMG. Thai Airlines charges around US$600 for a round-trip. If you purchase your ticket from one of the many discount agencies in Bangkok, you’ll get a much better deal.

Australia

The easiest way to get to Bangladesh from Australia is to fly to Bangkok, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, then fly from there to Dhaka, or to fly to Kolkata in India, and fly or travel by land into Bangladesh. Flights from Sydney to Dhaka can be found for as little as A$1000 whereas advance-purchase airfares from the east coast to Bangkok are from A$900 return.

Quite a few travel offices specialise in discount air tickets. Some travel agents, particularly smaller ones, advertise cheap fares in the travel sections of weekend newspapers such as the Age in Melbourne and the Sydney Morning Herald.

Continental Europe

Though London is the travel-discount capital of Europe, there are several other cities where you can find a range of good deals. Generally there is not much variation in airfares for departures from the main European cities. All the major airlines usually offer some sort of deal, and travel agents generally have a number of deals on offer, so shop around.

Weather

The climate in Bangladesh is dramatic, to say the least. It is subtropical and tropical with temperatures ranging from as low as 3ºC overnight in the cold season to a daytime top of above 40ºC in the hot season. Annual rainfall varies from 1000mm in the west to 2500mm in the southeast, and up to 5000mm in the north, near the hills of Assam.

Three-quarters of the annual rainfall occurs between June and September. The 90% to 95% humidity in this season is almost unbearable.

In the cold season the weather is drier and fresh, with average daytime temperatures of 24ºC. Rainfall is negligible, although even in winter a brief shower may come along.

While early March can still be pleasant, by April, as the monsoon approaches, humidity increases and lethal hailstorms aren’t uncommon. The monsoon season usually starts between late May and mid-June. It doesn’t rain solidly all day – there tends to be an initial downpour, followed by clear skies. You should avoid visiting at this time of year!

When to go

Bangladesh has three main seasons: the monsoonal season (wet season) from late May to early October; the cool season from mid-October to the end of February; and the hot season from March to mid-May.

Between October and February is the best time to go: skies are blue, days are sunny and the weather is dry, with daytime temperatures averaging 24ºC. By April the temperature rises to around 40ºC, the humidity can be intolerable and hailstorms aren’t uncommon. On average, Bangladesh is hit by one major cyclone every three years. The worst times for these are May and June, and October and November.

The only festival that may really inconvenience you is Ramadan. During this month-long period of fasting, getting food (especially in small towns) can be difficult. Some budget hotels stop operating altogether.

Visas

Citizens from the following countries can get a visa on arrival at an international airport in Bangladesh:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, China, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, France, German, Iceland, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Kuwait, Luxemburg, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirate, USA, and East European countries.

Visa Fees:

• Visa on arrival: $50
• Transit Visa: $20
• Please see table below for more details on visa fees for individual countries.

Applicable to: Tourists and business travelers

Port of Entry for visa on-arrival and transit visas:

• Only at the international airports in Dhaka and Chittagong.
• Visa on-arrival is not issued at any of the land borders of Bangladesh with her neighboring countries.
• It may be noted that for such a visa or permit, the port of entry and port of departure should be the same.

Documents needed to be eligible for a visa on arrival:

• A return air ticket or a printout of the e-tickets with details of the return itinerary from Bangladesh
• At least US$500
• Business travellers need to show necessary papers to the Immigration officer to prove that they have come to visit Bangladesh for business purpose
• An invitation letter from an organization or a travel company for tourists

Validity of Visas:

• On-arrival visas are issued for 30 days
• Transit visas are issued for 72 hours

Visa Requirements:

Please note that after scrutiny of documents, the Consular Officer may request for an interview and / or submission of additional documents. Issuance of visa may be delayed if reference has to be made to Bangladesh for clearance. The Consulate General may accept or reject any application for visa.
When do you need to apply for a visa ahead of time from a Bangladesh Consulate abroad?

• If you are going to be arriving to Bangladesh by land and will enter through one of the neighboring countries
• If you are a journalist or media personnel and will be filming in Bangladesh for the sake of creating a documentary or video report of any kind. (Please note that it takes 3 months to process journalism visas for Bangladesh

Applying for Visa from a Bangladesh Consulate:

To obtain a visa the applicant must submit the following:

• 1 (0ne) copy of filled-in Visa Application Form.
• 2 (Two) copy  photographs taken within the last six months.
• Passport, valid for at least six months.
• For US nationals Visa Fee is US$ 160 (US$ 190 for Employment Visa).For nationals of other countries, please click here
• Required documents as stated in the Visa Requirements section based on the type of visa.

Mail in Service: Application for visa and NVR endorsement can also be submitted by mail. For details please click Mail-in-Service.

No Visa Required (NVR) Stamp

For Bangladeshi American:

• 2 (Two) Copies of passport sized photo (color).
• US Passport
• Copy of valid/expired Bangladesh Passport (first 7 pages), or Dual Citizenship Certificate.
• A $50 (Fifty US dollars) fee in the form of Money Order or Cashier Check.
• Self-addressed envelope with required prepaid postage for return delivery of the   passport.

For foreign wife of Bangladeshi/ Bangladeshi American:

• 2 (Two) Copies of passport sized photo (color)
• US Passport
• Copy of husband’s valid/expired Bangladesh Passport (first 7 pages), or Dual Citizenship Certificate.
• Copy of Marriage certificate.
• Notarized affidavit/declaration by husband stating that their marriage is not broken.
• A $50 (Fifty US dollars) fee in the form of Money Order or Cashier Check.
• Self Self-addressed envelope with required prepaid postage for return delivery of the   passport.

For children of Bangladeshi/ Bangladeshi American:

• 2 (Two) Copies of passport sized photo (color).
• US Passport.
• Copy of fathers’ valid/expired Bangladesh Passport (first 7 pages), or Dual Citizenship Certificate.
• Notarized affidavit/declaration by parents stating that he/she is his/her biological son/daughter(Click for sample).
• A $50 (Fifty US dollars) fee in the form of Money Order or Cashier Check.
• Self-addressed envelope with required prepaid postage for return delivery of the passport.

Visa Fees for the single, re-entry and multiply visas:

Visa Forms:

• Journalism visa: http://www.bdcgny.org/download/forms/visa_ff-ii_form.pdf
• Tourism visa: http://www.bdcgny.org/download/forms/visa_application_form.pdf

Countries that do not require a visa to travel to Bangladesh:

Citizens of countries listed below do not require visa to enter Bangladesh. Upon entry they are permitted to stay for a maximum period of 90 days.

Visa Extension:

Visa extensions are possible Dhaka at the Immigration and Passport Office on Agargaon Rd.

• Options are to pay $150 for an extension at the Immigration & passport office, or pay an just pay the overstay fee of Tk 200/day for up to 15 days at the airport, which grows substantially to Tk 500/day thereafter
• For a longer than 15 day extension to say 90 days, you fill out a form at the Immigration & Passport office that is open from Sat- Thurs. and pick up your passport 3-4 days after submission of your filled out form

Change of Routes Permits:

• If you came by air and now would like to leave for land and then re-enter Bangladesh after, you need to apply for a change of route permit at the same Immigration and Passport office in Agargaon Rd.
• This permit is free and is issued in 24 hours
• You will need 4 passport size photographs when you apply

List of Bangladesh Embassies and Consulates around the world:

N.B: Please note that Israeli passport holders are not permitted to visit Bangladesh or be given a visa to travel to Bangladesh.

Money

The local currency of Bangladesh is the taka (Tk; rhymes with Dhaka), which is further divided into 100 paisas. There are 10, 20 and 50 paisa, and Tk 1, Tk 2 and Tk 5 coins. There are notes in denominations of Tk 1, Tk 2, Tk 5, Tk 10, Tk 20, Tk 50, Tk 100 and Tk 500.

Torn notes may be refused by merchants. Most banks will exchange them for you.

Bangladesh is a long way behind much of the world when it comes to banking and exchanging money. Most banks outside the big cities won’t exchange money in whatever form you present it – even dollar or euro cash receives wide-eyed stares of bewilderment. It’s best to change as much money as you are likely to need in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet. You might get lucky elsewhere, but many travellers find themselves getting caught short when no bank for miles around will exchange money or travellers cheques for them and every ATM spits out their card in disgust!

ATMs

Major towns and cities have ATMs, and there appear to be more on the way. However, the vast majority don’t accept foreign bank or credit cards. The most reliable are those belonging to Standard Chartered Bank, Dutch-Bangla Bank and HSBC, and with any of these three you shouldn’t have any problems with a Visa card, but Cirrus or MasterCard might present problems. Unfortunately, these machines are only found in the biggest towns and cities. ATMs are usually open-all-hours guarded booths.
Cash

It is a good idea to bring US dollars with you to change into local currency when you can’t change travellers cheques or use a credit card. US dollars are the preferred currency, with euros running a very distant second. Again, only banks like Standard Chartered and HSBC in the biggest centres are likely to change cash for you. At some banks you may have to show your passport even when changing cash.

Credit cards

Visa, MasterCard and American Express are usually accepted by major hotels and restaurants in Dhaka and Chittagong.

Cash advances on credit cards can be made at Standard Chartered and HSBC banks. HSBC ATMs do not accept Cirrus cards.

Moneychangers

There are a few authorised moneychangers that legally convert cash on the spot at good rates. They’re open all hours and can convert taka into US dollars as well. If it looks like a well-run establishment, chances are it is.

With the liberalisation of the economy, there is essentially no black market.

Travellers cheques

Put simply, don’t bother! Only the biggest international banks are likely to accept them and even then it will be with great reluctance.

Costs

Whatever budget you’re travelling on, you can be certain that you’ll get more for your money in Bangladesh than just about anywhere else on earth. If you’re the type of traveller who sees a cockroach-infested room as just a place to sleep, then you’ll enjoy Bangladesh. For as little as Tk 60 you can have a room all to yourself, for Tk 30 you can get an enormous meal and for around Tk 5 you can buy a street snack. A backpacker looking to stretch the pennies can easily get by on US$6 a day or less. At the ‘you only live once’ end of the spectrum, you can pay a couple of hundred US dollars for a lavish room, and buy a meal of the same quality and for the same price that you would expect at home (though travel at this end of the scale is only really feasible in Dhaka and Chittagong).

Most people, even those who are confirmed budget travellers elsewhere, travel on a midrange budget in Bangladesh. For between Tk 400 and Tk 1000 a night you will be able to find a nice place to stay with all the necessary amenities. A Tk 120 meal is large and tasty. In the way of transportation, there is a range of classes on trains and boats, and different types of buses, which offers enormous flexibility when weighing up value and comfort. A couple staying together in good quality hotels, travelling on 1st-class train carriages and eating in decent restaurants should budget about US$15 each a day.

Health

We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you’ll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. The Australian Government will not pay for a traveller’s medical expenses overseas or medical evacuation costs.

It is important to consider your physical and mental health before travelling overseas. We encourage you to consider having vaccinations before you travel. At least eight weeks before you depart, make an appointment with your doctor or travel clinic for a basic health check-up, and to discuss your travel plans and any implications for your health, particularly if you have an existing medical condition. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our health page also provides useful information for travellers on staying healthy.

The standard of medical facilities in Bangladesh is poor and is very limited outside the capital, Dhaka. Doctors and hospitals generally require up-front payment prior to commencing treatment. In the event of a serious illness or accident, medical evacuation to a destination with the appropriate facilities would be necessary. Medical evacuation costs could exceed $A25,000.

Malaria is prevalent throughout rural areas of Bangladesh and outbreaks of other mosquito-borne diseases (including dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis) occur in many areas. We recommend that you seek medical advice on taking prophylaxis against malaria and take measures to avoid insect bites, including using insect repellent at all times, wearing long, loose-fitting, light coloured clothing and ensuring your accommodation is mosquito proof.

The mosquito-borne disease Japanese encephalitis is found throughout many regions of North, South and South-East Asia and Papua New Guinea. A Japanese encephalitis vaccine is registered for use and is currently available in Australia. For further details please consult your travel health doctor.

Water-borne, food-borne and other infectious diseases (including HIV/AIDS, cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, Nipah virus, tuberculosis and rabies) are prevalent with more serious outbreaks occurring from time to time. We recommend you boil all drinking water or drink bottled water, avoid ice cubes and raw and undercooked food. Do not swim in fresh water to avoid exposure to certain water-borne parasites. Seek medical advice if you have a fever or are suffering from diarrhoea.

Several hundred cases of the coetaneous form of anthrax were reported in 2010 in people who consumed beef or had close contact with diseased animals. Further outbreaks could occur. Travellers should avoid handling raw meat or butchering. Beef and beef products bought from reliable sources, and which are fully cooked, are safe to eat.

Avoid temporary ‘black henna’ tattoos and body painting as they often contain a dye which can cause serious skin reactions and permanent allergies.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed human cases of avian influenza in Bangladesh. See our health page and Avian Influenza bulletin for further information on influenza.

Below is a list of Consulates and Embassies in Bangladesh along with physical addresses and e-mail addresses where available.

Australian High Commission – Dhaka
Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium – House 22, Road 140, Gulshan-1 in Dhaka
British High Commission – United Nations Road, Baridhara in Dhaka.
Canadian High Commission – Dhaka
Embassy of Denmark – House NW(H) 1, Road 51, Gulshan Model Town.
Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt – House-NE(N) 9, Road 90, Gulshan Model Town.
European Union Delegation – House 7, Road 84, Gulshan 2.
Embassy of France – House 18, Road 108, Gulshan.
Embassy of Germany – Dhaka
High Commission of India – House 2, Road 142, Gulshan
Embassy of Italy – Plot 2/3, Road 74/79 Gulshan Model Town.
Embassy of Japan – Plot 5 & 7, Dutabash Road, Baridhara.
Embassy of Korea – House 6, Road 7, Baridhara OR House NW (E) 17, Road 55, Gulshan Model Town.
Embassy of Kuwait – Road SE(D) 5 , South Link Road, Gulshan
Malaysian High Commission – House 4, Road 118, Gulshan Model Town.
Embassy of Myanmar – House 89B, Road 4, Banani Model Town.
Nepalese Embassy – Dhaka.
Embassy of the Kimgdom of the Netherlands – House 49, Road 90, Gulshan.
Embassy of Norway – Dhaka
High Commission for Pakistan – House NE(C) 2, Road 71, Gulshan.
Embassy of Palestine – CES(C) 4, Road 118, Gulshan Model Town.
Embassy of Philippines – House NE(L) 5, Road 83, Gulshan Model Town.
Embassy of Poland – House 53, Gulshan Ave, Gulshan Model Town.
Embassy of Qatar – House 23, Road 108, Gulshan.
Embassy of Romania – House 33, Road 74, Gulshan Model Town.
Embassy of Russia – Dhaka
Embassy of Saudi Arabia – House 12 NE(N), Road 92 Gulshan North Avenue.
Embassy of Sweden – House 1, Road 51 Gulshan.
Embassy of Switzerland – House 31B, Road 18, Banani.
Embassy of Tanzania – Dhaka.
Embassy of Thailand – House NW(E) 12, Road 59, Gulshan.
Embassy of Turkey – House 7, Road 62, Gulshan.
Embassy of United Arab Emirates – House CEN(H) 41, Road 113, Gulshan.
U.S. Embassy – Dhaka.