Travel Information of Bangladesh

Tourist Facilities

The international airport in Dhaka is well-equipped with facilities to handle passenger and cargo flights. The national carrier Bangladesh Biman and a number of major airlines of the world run regular services to and from Dhaka. Biman and a private company fly smaller aircraft to transport passengers to different airports within the country. The Dhaka Sheraton Hotel, the Sonargaon Pan Pacific Hotel and Purbani Hotel run their own transfer services to and from the airport for convenience of their guests. The Parjatan Corporation also runs a similar transfer service with a fleet of comfortable cars and microbuses. The corporation operates a large number of hotels, motels, cottages, restaurants, duty-free shops and package tours in Dhaka and at different tourist spots outside. In the Sunderbans the visitors can stay in comfortable rest houses, take boat trips along the creeks and from observation towers watch tigers, deer, monkeys, crocodiles and birds. In Dhaka and elsewhere various kinds of oriental and western food are served by the hotels, motels and restaurants. Bangladehi costumes and handicraft are attractive in design and quality and are good value for money. In 1995, foreign tourists numbering 156, 231 visited the country bringing for the national exchequer over Tk. 95 million in foreign exchange. Climate: Bangladesh has a tropical monsoon-type climate, with a hot and rainy summer and a dry winter. January is the coolest month with temperatures averaging near 26 deg C (78 d F) and April the warmest with temperatures from 33 to 36 deg C (91 to 96 deg F). The climate is one of the wettest in the world. Most places receive more than 1,525 mm of rain a year, and areas near the hills receive 5,080 mm ). Most rains occur during the monsoon (June-September) and little in winter (November-February). Bangladesh is subject to devastating cyclones, originating over the Bay of Bengal, in the periods of April to May and September to November. Often accompanied by surging waves, these storms can cause great damage and loss of life. The cyclone of November 1970, in which about 500,000 lives were lost in Bangladesh, was one of the worst natural disasters of the country in the 20th century. Bangladesh has warm temperatures throughout the year, with relatively little variation from month to month. January tends to be the coolest month and May the warmest. In Dhaka the average January temperature is about 19°C (about 66°F), and the average May temperature is about 29°C (about 84°F). Required clothing: Lightweight cottons and linens throughout the year. Warmer clothes are needed in the evenings during the cool season. Waterproofs are necessary during the monsoon season.

Passports and Visas Restricted entry: The government of Bangladesh refuses admission and transit to nationals of Israel. Passports: Passport valid for 3 months after departure required by all. Visas: Required by all except the following: (a) nationals of Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Bhutan, Dominica, Fiji, Gambia, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Jamaica, Guyana, Honduras, Lesotho, Malawi, Maldives, Montserrat, Papua New Guinea, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Uruguay, Vatican City and Zambia for stays of up to 90 days. (b) transit passengers continuing their journey the same for first connecting aircraft provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport. (c) tourist and business travellers arriving at Zia international airport, Dhaka and Patenga international airport, provided holding return air tickets, who may be granted 'landing permission' by the Chief Immigration Officer for stays of up to 15 days. Note: Visas are not required by Bangladesh nationals nor by former Bangladesh nationals holding British passports provided they have the statement' no visa required for travel to Bangladesh' stamped in their passport by the Bangladesh High Commission. Please also note any foreign visitor overstaying the allotted period may be charged a fine for each day of overstay. Types of visa: Entry, Visit, Tourist and. Entry visas may be issued for short conference or journalistic trips (although not for business trips). Validity: Single- and Double-entry: 6 months from date of issue. Multiple-entry: 6-12 months from date of issue. Stays are for a maximum of 90 days each. Application to: Consular Section at Embassy or High Commission. Application requirements: (a) Valid passport. (b) 2 completed application forms. (c) 2 passport-size photos. (d) Fee. (e) Letter from employer or other relevant letters for business and conference trips. Working days required: 24 hours for a single-entry visa; 48 hours for other types of visa. 7-10 days for postal applications. Money and Currency Currency: Bangladeshi Taka (Tk) = 100 poisha. Notes are in denominations of Tk 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are in denominations of 500, 100, 50, 25, 10 and 5 poisha. Currency exchange: All foreign currency exchanged must be entered on a currency declaration form. Hotel bills must be paid in a major convertible currency or with travellers cheques. Many shops in the cities will offer better rates of exchange than the banks. Credit cards: Limited acceptance of MasterCard, Diners Club and American Express. Check with your credit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. Travellers cheques: Can be exchanged on arrival at Dhaka Airport. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. Exchange rate indicators against Sterling and the US Dollar: The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Taka against Sterling and the US Dollar: Currency restrictions: The import of foreign currency is unlimited (subject to declaration at time of arrival for sums in excess of US$5000). The export of foreign currency is limited to the amount declared on arrival. The import and export of local currency is limited to Tk100. Banking hours: 0900-1500 Sunday to Thursday Duty Free and Customs The following goods may be imported into Bangladesh without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 225g of tobacco; 1 bottle of alcoholic beverages (non-Muslims only); a reasonable amount of perfume; gifts up to the value of Tk500. Note: Duty-free items may be bought at the duty-free shop at Dhaka Airport on arrival. Prohibited items: Firearms and some animals. Customs Regulations: There are restrictions on importing currency and weapons. Contact the Embassy of Bangladesh for specific information Baggage Rule Baggage rule of Government of Bangladesh List of Taxable Baggage Items (a) Imported goods, other than personal and household items are taxable. (b) Each person is allowed two suitcases not exceeding 65 kg total as personal and household luggage. However, if the 3rd suitcase is of Magazines which are used for education purpose are not taxable. (c) Imported items which are used for commercial purposes are taxable (d) Bangladesh citizens are not allowed to import Alcohol/Alcoholic beverages. The following items which may be imported as personal/Household items, are taxable as per the tax mentioned in brackets. 1. Television: (a) up to 21" Tk. 5000/- (b) up to 25" Tk. 7500/- (c) up to 29" Tk. 10,000/- 2. VCR/VCP/ Satellite receiver Tk. 3000/- 3. VCD/DVD/LD/MD Player Tk. 4000/- 4. Music center: (a) with general CD and detached Speaker Tk. 2000/- (b) Component system (CD/VCD/DVD/LD/MD set) Tk.8000/- (c) Detachable ` (CD/VCD/DVD/LD/MD Set) Tk.15,000/0- 5. Refrigerator /Deep Freezer Tk. 5000/- 6. Dish Washer/Washing /Knitting Machine Tk.3000/- 7. Electric Sewing Machine/Knitting Machine Tk.1000/- 8. General Photocopier/ Photo Enlarger Tk. 10,000/- 9. Aircooler/AirConditioner: (a) Window type Tk. 10,000/- (b) Split type Tk. 25,000/- 10. Fax Machine Tk. 5000/- 11. Oven: (a) Microwave oven Tk. 2000/- (b) Gas oven with burner Tk. 5000/- 12. Dish Antena Tk. 7000/- 13. Gold bar or bullion (Maximum 5 kg) Tk. 300 (per 11.664 gm) 14. Silver bar or bullion (Maximum 20 kg) Tk. 6/ (per 11.664gm) 15. Mobile/Cellular Telephone tk. 5000/- 16. Airgun/Air rifle Tk. 2000/- 17. Candelabrum Tk. 300/- per point 18. Carpet up to 15 square metere Tk. 500sq. meter. Schedule-2 Duty & Tax free goods 1. Cassette Player/Two-in-one 2. Disk man/Walkman (Audio) 3. Portable Audio CD player 4. Desktop / Laptop Computer (with Printer & UPS) 5. Video Camera 6. Still Camera 7. General/Push button/Cordless telephone Set 8. General/Electric Oven 9. Rice Cooker /Pressure Cooker 10. Blender/Juicer/Cofee Maker 11. General and Electric Type writer 12. Sewing Machine (manual) 13. Table/Pedestal Fan 14. Sports materials (for personal use) 15. 200gms gold/silver ornaments (Not more than 12 pcs of each item) 16. One Cartoon Cigarette (200 stick). Distance City to City Dhaka Barisal Bogra Chittagong Comilla Dinajpur Faridpur Jessore Khulna Kushtia Mymensing Noakhali Pabna Rajshahi Rangpur Rangamati Sylhet Dhaka - 277 229 264 97 414 145 274 335 277 193 192 161 270 335 340 346 Barisal 277 - 438 541 373 673 132 261 322 264 470 468 280 401 594 616 623 Bogra 229 438 - 492 325 185 356 320 381 224 422 420 158 264 106 568 575 Chittagong 264 541 492 - 167 678 409 538 599 541 457 151 425 534 599 76 425 Comilla 97 373 325 167 - 510 241 370 431 373 290 95 257 367 431 243 275 Dinajpur 414 673 185 678 510 - 541 549 566 409 607 605 343 449 79 753 760 Faridpur 145 132 356 409 241 541 - 129 190 132 338 336 198 269 462 484 491 Jessore 274 261 320 538 370 549 129 - 61 79 467 465 163 233 426 626 632 Khulna 335 322 381 599 431 566 190 61 - 158 528 526 224 295 488 687 694 Kushtia 277 264 224 541 373 409 132 79 158 - 470 468 66 137 330 616 623 Mymensing 193 470 422 457 290 607 338 467 528 470 - 385 354 464 528 533 539 Noakhali 192 468 420 151 95 605 336 465 526 468 385 - 352 462 526 235 352 Pabna 161 280 158 425 257 343 198 163 224 66 354 352 - 109 264 500 507 Rajshahi 270 401 264 534 367 449 269 233 295 137 464 462 109 - 370 610 616 Rangpur 335 594 106 599 431 79 462 426 488 330 528 526 264 370 - 675 681 Rangamati 340 616 568 76 243 753 484 626 687 616 533 235 500 610 675 - 500 Sylhet 346 623 575 425 257 760 491 632 694 623 539 352 507 616 681 500 - Foods & Drinks Western food is available in all major hotels and most of the big restaurants in import cities. But local dishes are normally far better and more exotic. Curries of many kinds around, cooked with proper spices and hot curry powders, including Korma, Rezala, Bhoona and Masala Gosht, Chicken, mutton, beef, fish and prawns, Chicken Afghani, Chicken Baghdadi, Chicken Kashmiri, Chicken Tikka, boti kabab, shutli kabab and a variety of fish curries should be tried. Rice in the form of pulao, biriani-with rice and mutton or chicken and khichuri are available in any reasonable restaurant. Those who do not care for rice dishes can try mughlai parata, plain parata or naan, which go very well with curries. Seafood and sweet-water fish are available in most of the towns. Fish-lovers should not miss smoked hilsa, fresh bhetki and chingri (lobster/king prawns) malaikari, Prawn dopyaza. DRINKS Chai - the milky sweet tea available almost everywhere. Lassi - the refreshing yogurt drink. Green coconut water is a fine, safe and refreshing drink. International soft drinks, such as Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Fanta, 7-up, Mirinda, Sun Crest and Sprite are readily available. Hard drinks are available in big hotels and selected restaurants. On Fridays drinking in public areas is not recommended for foreigners. DESSERTS Misti Dhohi, sweetened yogurt, Halua: a common dessert ranging from egg halua to carrot, sooji or wheat cream, almond, pistachio, nuts and so on, Sandesh: milk based dessert, one of the best available, Zorda: sweetened rice with nuts, Firni: rice flour cooked in milk, sugar and flavoring, Rasgolla & Kalojam: Two popular milk based desserts and made with sugar, flour and ghee, Ros Malai: round sweets floating in thick milk, Pitha: a blanket term for cakes or pastries including specific varieties such as chitoi, dhupi, takti, andosha, pufi, bhafa and pua, FRUITS Mangoes, Lichees, Bananas, Papayas, Jackfruit, Watermelon, Pineapple, Coconut and Oranges. Recommended Fast Food Restaurants: Waterfront Restaurant, Zia International Airport, Ph: (880-2) 8915407 Coopers, Airport Road. Ph: (880-2) 8119993 Yummy Yummy etc. The White Castle Ltd. 20, Kemal Ataturk Avenue. Ph: (880-2) 606268,605914 Seven Eleven, Mirpur Road, Dhanmondi. Ph: (880-2) 8117263 Big Bite, 22/B Sonargaon Road,Hatirpul. Ph: (880-2) 9664140 Sajna, 10 South Avenue, Gulshan-1,Dhaka-1212.Ph: (880-2) 603507,603243 China Town, 53 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue. Ph: (880-2) 8111329,8118425 Recommended Restaurants in Dhaka: A number of good restaurants provide local and western food. These include:- Parjatan Restaurant, Hotel Abakash, Mohakhali, Ph: 607085-89, 8811548, 8811109 Santoor, House-2, Road-11(New), Dhanmondi. Ph: (880-2) 9128737, 8213336 Goffers' Inn, Kurmitola Golf Club, Ph: 604592 Sakura Restaurant, near Dhaka Sheraton Hotel, Ph: 509296 Ruchita Restaurant, Bangabandhu Avenue, Ph: 9555693 Mary Anderson, Floating Restaurant, Paglaghat, Ph: 067171288 La Diplomat, Gulshan, Ph: 602282 Red Button, Farm Gate, Ph: 9117717 Balaka, Zia International Airport, Ph: 8914008 Kawran Saraj, Sonargaon Hotel, Ph: 8111005 Bithika, Dhaka Sheraton Hotel, Ph: 8611191, 8613391, 8614065 Recommended Chinese Restaurants include:- Parjatan Restaurant, Hotel Abakash, Mohakhali, Ph: 607085-89, 8811548, 8811109 Royal Orchid, Gulshan Avenue, Ph: 603573 Panda Garden, near Mohakhali Rail Gate, Ph: 608469 La Diplomat, Gulshan, Ph: 602282 Hwwang Ho, Banani, Ph: 602932 Chung Wah, North-South Road, Ph: 9553263 Kawloon, Ph: 9111353; Goffers' Inn, Kurmitola Golf Club, Ph: 604592; Shangri-La, Ph: 8824015 at Banani Bazar and the Cathey Dhaka, Road 133 Gulshan, Ph: 608476 Besides there are some specialized restaurants which included, Doice vita (Mexican & Italian), 54 Kamal Ataturk Avenue, Banani, Ph: 500589, 607980; Sea Food Centre, 78/A Gulshan Avenue, Ph: 606175 Sawasdee (Thai), 65 Kamal Ataturk Avenue, Banani, Ph: 60607571, 8824476 Lemon Grass (Thai & Vietnarness), Road 131, Gulshan-2, Ph: 8822376; The White Castle, 20, Kamal Ataturk Avenue, Banani, Ph: 605914, 606268, 8812658 Angan Restaurant, SWC(3), Gulshan Avenue, Dhaka-1212 Ph: 8810448.