edit Bangladesh Travel Guide

• Dhaka|Dhaka Division - home to the capital city
• Chittagong Division - a picturesque hinterland of large hills forests
• Rajshahi Division - known for its silk
• Khulna Division - a relaxing, slow paced area, home of the Sundarbans
• Sylhet Division - home to endless rolling tea estates and beautiful natural scenery
• Barisal|Barisal Division The land o River, Paddy & Green. To see real bangladesh Barisal is the best.

Visas

The link for the VISA page at the end of this paragraph belongs to the Bangladesh Civil Aviation (CAAB) Website and describes some of the 'official' visa rules. Recent travelers may elect to enter notes here if the rules in the linked page are not current any longer. CAAB Visa Page

Citizens of all countries need visa to enter Bangladesh. They prefer you to obtain it in your home country, but it's also possible at a few embassies and consulates in neighboring countries. Visas are not available at the airports or border crossings. If you apply in your home country you can usually obtain a 3 month visa if arriving by air, or 15 days if arriving at a land border crossing. Fees vary depending on nationality and length of visa requested.

Visa extensions are possible in Dhaka at the Immigration and Passport Office, Agargaon Rd. Fees are the same as a single-entry visa, even if just trying to expand your 15 day pittance into a full-fledged 30-90 day visa, making a sidetrip from India for longer than 15 days an expensive endeavor. If you only want to stay a little longer it's better to just pay the overstay fee of Tk 200/day for up to 15 days, which grows substantially to Tk 500/day thereafter. Some of the smaller backwater crossings such as Tamabil may not even notice that you've overstayed, don't point it out yourself.

The Bangladesh High Commission in Kolkata, Circus Ave (Just east of AJC Bose Rd), 91 (0)33 2290 5208/5209, issues 15 day visas, ranging from free for Indians to a hefty Rs 5000 (~$110) for American citizens. Applications are received at window

1. 4 M-F from 9-11AM, and visas are generally ready the next afternoon. Bring 3 passport photos.

If you were a Bangladeshi citizen at some point in time and now hold a passport from a different country, you can contact your nearest Bangladesh High Commission for your "No Visa Required" stamp, which works as a permanent visa as long as your passport containing the stamp doesn't expire.

By plane

ZIA International Airport () in Dhaka is the main gateway to the country, though Chittagong and Sylhet also receive international flights.

The national carrier is Biman Air, connecting with a few hubs in the Middle East, Asia and Europe. It has a terrible reputation for punctuality, cleanliness and safety, and has been tottering on the brink of bankruptcy for years. They have a bad reputation of canceling flights due to mis-planning and lack of backup aircrafts.

The private carrier GMG Airlines operates international flights to Dhaka from Kolkata, Delhi, Bangkok and Kathmandu, and is far better managed than Biman.

Some international flights like those operated by British Airways and Thai Airways stop in Chittagong or Sylhet en route to/from Dhaka. Most major Alliances such as One World and Star Alliance fly to/from Dhaka regularly. British Airways flys non-stop between London and Dhaka.

By bus

The only open land borders are those with India. No land crossing is possible to Myanmar (occasionally Bangladesh passport holders are allowed to cross from Teknaf, though this changes regularly).

From Kolkata

From India there are a number of land entry points. The most common way is the regular comfortable a/c buses from Kolkata to Dhaka via the Haridaspur / Benapole border post. Private bus companies Shohagh, Green Line, Shyamoli and others operate daily bus services. Govt. buses run under the label of the state owned West Bengal Surface Transport Service Corporation (WBSTSC) and the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC). WBSTSC and BRTC both operate buses from Kolkata every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 5:30AM and 8:30AM, and 12:30PM while from Dhaka they leave on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7:00AM and 7:30AM. The normal journey time is around 12 hours with a one-way fare of Rs550 or BDT600-800, roughly $8-12. If you're only headed to Haridaspur the fare is Rs86 (2.5 hours).

From Siliguri

Another daily bus service under the WBSTSC/BRTC label runs from Siliguri to Dhaka, via the Changrabanda / Burimari or Burungamari border post with a change of bus at the border. A round-trip Siliguri-Dhaka-Siliguri ticket costs BDT 1300, (~$20). Tickets are sold in Dhaka and Siliguri. Buses leave Dhaka at 8PM and Siliguri at 2PM.

From Agartala

There is a regular bus service between Dhaka and Agartala, capital of India's Tripura state. Two BRTC buses leave daily from Dhaka and connect with the Tripura Road Transport Corporation vehicles, running six days a week with a roundtrip fare of BDT600 ($10). There is only one halt at Ashuganj in Bangladesh during the journey. Call 880 2 8360241 for schedule.

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Other entry points from India are Hili, Chilahati / Haldibari and Banglaband border posts for entry from West Bengal; Tamabil / Dawki border post for a route between Shillong (Meghalaya) and Sylhet in Bangladesh, and some others with lesser known routes from north-eastern Indian regions.

By train

Train services from India were suspended for 42 years, but the Moitree Express is scheduled to start running from Dhaka to Kolkata in end Sep/Oct 2007.

Bangladesh came into existence in 1971 when Bengali East Pakistan seceded from its union with Pakistan|West Pakistan. Although Bangladesh only emerged as an independent country in 1971, its history stretches back thousands of years and it has long been known as a crossroads of history and culture. Here you will find the world's longest sea beach, countless mosques, the largest mangrove forest in the world, interesting tribal villages and a wealth of elusive wild life. Above all else you'll encounter the friendliest people you've ever met.

It's one of the poorest countries in the world and the citizens are painfully aware of it, though the economic growth is higher than some other Asian countries. The bloody separation from West Pakistan didn't get the economy off to a great start, and frequent floods, tornadoes and political troubles haven't helped to improve the situation. It's a tiny country yet has the 7th largest population making it one of the most (over) populated in the world. It relies heavily on foreign charity and investments.

Ready-made garments, pharmaceuticals, and shrimp are some of the largest industries, though it seems to be only the top tier of society that are living a comfortable life. The gap between rich and poor is increasingly obvious, especially in cities such as Dhaka as you move around between the working class old city and affluent neighborhoods like Gulshan.

The country is primarily a low-lying plane of about 144,000 km², situated on deltas of large rivers flowing from the Himalayas: the Ganges unites with the Jamuna (main channel of the Brahmaputra) and later joins the Meghna to eventually empty into the Bay of Bengal. It%uFFFDs fertile and mostly flat farmland and, with the exception of Chittagong Division|Chittagong Hill Tracts, rarely exceeds 10 meters above sea level, making it dangerously susceptible to a rise in sea level.

Highest point: Bijoy (1,231 meters).

Bangladesh has a tropical monsoon climate. There are basically four seasons in a year %u2014 Winter (Dec-Feb), Summer (Mar-May), Monsoon (June-Sep) and Autumn (Oct-Nov). The average temperature across the country usually ranges between 9 C - 29 C in winter months and between 21 C - 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.

Bangladesh is a fish lover's paradise. Traditionally most of the country lives off of the once bountiful river fish, especially the officially designated "national fish" hilsa, though sea fish are now working their way north. Sometimes incredibly boney, it's often served whole, and sometimes deboned and made into a curry. Mutton is also popular, as in most Muslim countries, as is decidedly meatless chicken. Rice is almost always the companion to any of these.

Mixed vegetable curries are plentiful - potato, eggplant, squash and tomatoes are the staple ingredients. Cucumber is enormously popular and often served with onions as a little side salad.

Dal is available at pretty much anytime of the day and accompanies most meals, though it doesn't compare to its cousin in India %u2014 expect a salty dal-flavored water with a few lentils hanging out in the bottom of the bowl.

Boiled eggs (dhim) are a popular snack (Tk 3-5), and fresh fruit is abundant, such as bananas (Tk 2/ea), apples (chinese, Tk 80-100/kg), oranges, grapes, pomegranates and papayas.

Fast food restaurants and bakeries serving burgers, spring rolls, vegetable patties and just about anything else you can throw in a deep fryer are dotted around most cities. Most things will run around Tk 10/each.

Most Bangladeshis eat with their right hand as in neighboring countries - play with your food a little first to form it into a mouth-sized ball then, using your four fingers as a makeshift scoop, pick it up and launch it into your mouth with your thumb - takes some practice, but don't pretend you aren't loving it. Never use your left hand to bring food to your mouth, though it's ok to use it for bringing a glass to your mouth or to serve food from a common dish with a spoon. Every restaurant will have a handwashing station (sometimes just a pitcher if they don't have running water), and you should use it before and after the meal. It doesn't matter a whole lot if you don't get it all exactly right, but know that the entire restaurant is watching and waiting to see if you do.

Table sharing is acceptable and even expected in most establishments, with the exception of nicer city restaurants. Many places have separate curtained-off booths for women and families, a nice reprieve from prying eyes.

Drink

Nightlife is Bangladesh in nearly non-existent. Being a Muslim country, alcohol is frowned upon and found mostly in the international clubs and pricier restaurants in Dhaka and in some restaurants in tourist centers like Cox's Bazar. In Teknaf and on Saint Martins Island you may stumble upon the occcasional beer smuggled in from Myanmar. Some of the nicest hotels in the cities have fully equipped bars with exaggerated prices to match.

Fruit juice is plentiful, varied and delicious, though be wary of watered down or icy drinks and dirty blenders. Sugarcane juice is widely available during the hot season.

Coconuts are popular in the southeast tourists spots like Cox's Bazar and Saint Martins Island.

There's a broad range of hotels in the country, from economy hotels costing $1 per night (sometimes filthy and sometimes reluctant to take foreigners) up to 5-star hotels in some of the major cities, including chains like Radisson and Sheraton.

Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, .

Telephone

The country code for Bangladesh is 88. Add a 0 to make a call to any Bangladesh city or region outside the national capital.

It is not possible to access international information (directory assistance) from within Bangladesh. If you need international directory assistance, check the Internet telephone directories.

Landlines are a rarity in Bangladesh, and aren't reliable even when you can find them. Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (BTTB, known generally as T&T) is the public sector phone company and the only landline service in the country.

Mobile phones are a better bet and widely available. In most towns they'll be your only option, and many shop owners let theirs double as PCO's / ISD's. Banglalink and Grameenphone are the most widely available, followed by Citycell, Aktel , Teletalk and Warid. Except Citycell all work on the GSM network, and offer prepaid packages at reasonable prices %u2013 usually about Tk 140 ($2) to get started. International calls are possible, and often more reasonably priced than you would expect if you're calling the US or major European countries... though prices can rise drastically as you get more off the beaten path. E-ISD facility offered by different mobile phone service providers can reduce the cost significantly.

Internet

Internet is available in most of the larger towns, with prices hovering around Tk 15-20/hour. Most are on dial-up connections, though you'll stumble across broadband occasionally.

Internet calls may be be possible, though the Information Ministry has outlawed them. Try Dialpad, Hotelphone or Skype. You'll likely need your own microphone/headphone.

• Bottled water is recommended, as the tap water is often unsafe for foreign stomachs, and some hand-drawn tube wells are contaminated with naturally occurring arsenic. This will easily pass through filters designed only to screen out bacteria. A more environmentally friendly option is to boil your own water, or use purifying tablets. However, nothing short of distillation will remove arsenic.

• It's also wise to use discretion when eating from street vendors - make sure it's freshly cooked and hot.

• Mosquitoes can be abundant in some areas and cities, and nets are often provided, even in some of the cheapest hotels.

• Consult your travel doctor about precautions against malaria and Tropical_diseases
  1. Water_.28or_contaminated_food.29|typhoid fever.

• Pollution can be a problem, and in some of the cities like Dhaka and Chittagong you may wish you'd brought along an oxygen tank. While some effort has been shown recently to clean up the country such as the banning of plastic bags, there's still a long way to go and most people use the many waterways as garbage dumps - it would be unwise to swim in most of the rivers and downright senseless in a lake.

By Plane

Air travel in Bangladesh is very affordable and convenient.

There are airports in all of the division capitals and in Jessore, Cox's Bazar and some other small cities. Most of the domestic airports are served by either Biman Air, the national airline, or GMG Airlines, their private competitor. There are two smaller private airlines United Airways, and Royal Bengal Airlines, however these latter two are quite new and may not have scheduled services yet (as of 10/30/2007).

By Bus

Local Bangladeshi buses are generally crowded, often to the extent of people riding on the bus steps (entrance) and sometimes even the roof. The state run Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) buses usually fall into this catergory.

However, there are luxurious air conditioned bus services connecting major cities and popular tourist destinations. Green Line, Shyamoli
SilkLine and Shohagh usually have a couple different offices dotted around the cities they serve. Greenline has a few Scania buses running between Dhaka, Chittagong and Cox's Bazar that offer a level of comfort you've probably never seen in a bus before - they cost about 1/3 more than their Volvo buses, but are comparable to business class on an airplane, at least.

By car

Driving in Bangladesh is not for the faint hearted - the road network is fairly good, but dodging irrational bus drivers and weaving in and out of rickshaws isn't easy on the nerves. Traffic in Dhaka has reached unimaginable proportions, and self-driving isn't really advised.

By train

Bangladesh Railways is the state and only train operator. The ticket prices are reasonable and usually similar to bus ticket prices and sometimes even cheaper. However, due to the roundabout routes and tricky river crossings, the journey durations are usually much longer. Tickets can be booked over the phone, though unless you speak Bengali you're likely to get better results at one of the computerized station booking offices.

Trains are generally comfortable, with more leg room than buses. Though the carriages are generally not very clean, the AC and 1st class seats are manageable. Sulob class is the highest 2nd class ticket, with reserved seating and not much different from 1st class (except in price).

Kamlapur Rail Station in Dhaka is large and modern. It serves all major cities but due to the existence of broad gauge and meter gauge tracks around the country it may be required to change trains en route.

Note that there have been a relatively high number of train accidents compared to other Asian countries.

By boat

There are over 230 mighty and small rivers throughout the country, and boats and ferries are an integral part of travel for locals and tourists alike. A journey along the river in any mode is probably the best way to see Bangladesh. There are a number of private tour operators offering river sightseeing trips of various lengths, or using the ferries to get between cities is a great way to see the country at a moderate pace.

The Rocket Steamer service connects Dhaka and Khulna via Barisal, and is a fantastic way to enjoy riverine Bangladesh, for those who prefer the scenic route. The 4 ferries are operated by BIWTC and run several times per week in each direction. It's advisable to book several days in advance if possible. While there are several different classes it's unlikely that you will end up in anything but 1st or 2nd class. Both of these consist of around 10 small berths on the upper deck of the boat with 2 beds each and a sink (no doubt doubling as a urinal), and fairly clean shared bathrooms. There's a central dining/sitting room in each class with a chef cooking Bengali meals and the odd fish-and-chips or an omelette for around Tk 50-150. Cheaper food can be bought at the vendors in the lower classes on the bottom level. First class is at the front of the boat, with the bow made into a nice sitting area. If you're traveling single you must book 2 beds if you want a berth guaranteed to yourself in either class, though unless the boat is completely full it's unlikely they'll put someone in a foreigner's room even if you just pay for one. The full journey takes anywhere from 26-30 hours and costs Tk 1010/610 in first/second class. It's best avoided during the rainy seasons and during holidays when the launches get over crowded with home-returning city dwellers. The more eco-friendly may prefer to take their trash off with them, otherwise it's likely to end up in the river at the end of the journey.

BIWTC also operates many other more basic ferries that may be useful for smaller distances.