Bangladesh essential info
Sun-dappled waterways, spice-infused alleys, tigers and tea fields: Bangladesh is full of surprises
Travel in Bangladesh: vital stats
Capital of Bangladesh: Dhaka
Population of Bangladesh: 156 million
Languages in Bangladesh: Bengali, English
Time in Bangladesh: GMT+6*
International dialling code in Bangladesh: +880
Voltage in Bangladesh: 220 AC, 50 Hz
Visas for Bangladesh: Visas for Bangladesh
Money in Bangladesh: Taka. It is unwise to carry large amounts of cash but a supply of US dollars is useful. Almost every major city has ATMs. Credit cards are accepted by most large restaurants and hotels in Dhaka and Chittagong and you can also change travellers cheques in these two cities. Tips are appreciated.
Bangladesh travel advice: Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Bangladesh tourism board: Bangladesh
* GMT+6. Daylight Saving Time is GMT+7 (came into force in 2009 but was reportedly cancelled in 2010)
When to go to Bangladesh
Time your visit wisely as the weather in Bangladesh can be extreme and during monsoon season more than 50% of the country is under water.
Summers (March-June) are hot and humid.
Monsoon season (June-October) is also hot with torrential downpours.
Winters (October-March) have pleasant temperatures. Cyclones, tornadoes, tidal bores and floods occur almost annually.
International airport
Shahjalal (DAC) 20 km from Dhaka.
Getting around in Bangladesh
When in Bangladesh do as the Bangladeshis do, and jump on a boat. The rivers are the lifeblood of the country and water travel offers the double benefit of being a convenient way to get around and an absorbing cultural experience.
Buses are without doubt the most panic-inducing of all the public transport options. It is about time the decrepit trains went to that great railway in the sky but alas, they are still in operation. Despite being old and slow, they are preferable to the buses.
In larger towns there is an abundance of taxis, baby taxis and rickshaws. Self drive car rental is not available but you can rent cars with drivers.
Motorbikes can be bought or hired and while they are a good way to dodge inner city traffic, biking elsewhere is not for the faint of heart. Be warned: the roads are poor, the local driving habits will make your hair stand on end and accidents are common, often resulting in vigilante justice.
Some roads, namely the perilous Dhaka-Chittagong and Dhaka-Bogra roads are best avoided altogether.
International airport
Shahjalal (DAC) 20 km from Dhaka.
Bangladesh accommodation
Don't expect any posh pads here: accommodation in Bangladesh is as down to earth as it gets. Dhaka offers some decent hotel chains and good guesthouses, but outside the major cities standards are low. In out-of-the-way places NGO guesthouses provide clean, cheap rooms. You will be hard pressed to find non smoking rooms. If mixed-sex couples want to share a room it would be a good idea to say they are husband and wife. Houseboats are a great way to experience river life.
Bangladesh food & drink
Unsurprisingly for such a waterlogged country, fish is always on the menu. Rice and lentils are staples too. The so-called honey months of June, July and August spawn some seriously tasty fruit (mainly mangoes, jackfruit, lychees and green coconuts).
Dhaka has upmarket eateries but throughout the rest of Bangladesh hygiene standards leave a lot to be desired. Try and accept invitations to dine at local houses as the best food you will come across is home-cooked Bangladeshi fare prepared with lashings of TLC.
Health & safety in Bangladesh
The Chittagong Hill Tracts are a fascinating but dangerous area where ethnic violence is common. Theft is a problem be wary of groups of thieves using CNGs (three wheeled motor rickshaws) and try and avoid travelling alone on public transport at night. You could encounter corrupt officials during your stay.
Road accidents pose more of a risk than disease, but malaria does occur in parts of the country.