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Bangladesh Pre-departure Information and
Personal Safety & Security Guidance for Visitors
Before You Leave
Visa Procedures
It is strongly suggested that visitors to Bangladesh obtain the correct visa before departing their
home/base country. This may require an invitation letter from Bangladesh Country Office (BdCO), which
can be available upon request for short term visits as well as a letter of invitation from the event
organizers (please contact [email protected] to request these documents). Visitors who wish to
get a visa in advance should request the correct visa from the Bangladesh embassy/High Commission
and doublecheck it when they get their passport back to make sure it is the correct visa.
Each visitor should obtain a proper visa upon receiving an attestation/approval of your appointment by
the concerned authority/ministry. It is always suggested that visitors come with a valid visa and depart
before the visa terminates. Overstaying may result in a fine and other penalties.
Recommended Visa for event participants:
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T – Visa (Tourist Visa): For less than 02 months staying in Bangladesh
Visa on Arrival (VoA) is available (generally for 15 days but maximum for 30 days) for all nationals
(including Europeans and Americans) except for some visa restricted countries (e.g. Afghanistan, Libya,
Iraq, etc.). The VoA fee is currently USD$51 (subject to change). African nationals are facing challenges
getting VoA and are requested to contact [email protected] at least 10 business days prior to
visiting Bangladesh so that our contacts in country can arrange VoA clearance.
IMPORTANT: Travelers wishing to receive Visa on Arrival may need to submit fees in USD/Euros/Pounds
Sterling and show that they have a minimum of $500USD or a credit card with them. Please contact your
country’s embassy in Dhaka to better understand the visa requirements.
Lodging and Accommodation
The Asia Regional Knowledge Sharing Meeting and the TOPS Theory of Change Training will be held at
the Westin Dhaka (Main Gulshan Avenue, Plot-01, Road 45, Gulshan-2, Dhaka, 1212). A limited number
of rooms are available for participants at the negotiated rate of $200/night, so please book your rooms
as soon as possible if you plan to stay at this venue by calling Amin (Md. Al-Amin) at 880.2.989.1988 or
e-mailing him at [email protected] and stating that you would like to book a room for
the “Asia Regional Knowledge Sharing Meeting”. Please contact the hotel as soon as possible to assure
that you receive the discounted rate.
Several other hotels are located near the Westin Dhaka, including:
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Six Seasons Hotel
o Address: House #19, Road No. 96, Gulshan-2, Dhaka-1212
o Telephone: 88-02-9840789-92
o E-mail: [email protected]
Amari Dhaka
o Address: 47, Road #41, Gulshan-2, Dhaka-1212
o Telephone: 88-02-9841951
Hotel Sarina
o Address: Plot #27, Road #17, Banani, Dhaka
o Telephone: 88-02-9821111
Reserving a Shuttle for Airport Pick-up
The Westin Dhaka offers hotel shuttle service for a fee of $18 USD. Shuttle reservations can be
requested by calling the hotel at 88-02-9891988 prior to arrival. Hotel and office vehicles use Terminal-1
for incoming visitors. Please confirm pick-up service before your flight.
Insurance and Medical
All visitors should obtain adequate travel and medical insurance before traveling. It is advisable to have
coverage for unexpected losses such as cancelled flights, stolen cash, cards, passport or luggage.
Additionally, while most medications are available in Bangladesh, it is recommended that you bring any
required prescribed medications, along with copies of the prescriptions, as well as contact lenses and
eye glasses.
Security Situation
The People’s Republic of Bangladesh is a small country with nearly 160 million people. It is located in the
northeastern part of South Asia on the Bay of Bengal. It is surrounded on three sides by India and shares
a small border with Myanmar in the southeast. The majority (86%) of people in Bangladesh are Muslims,
although Hindus, Christians and a small number of Buddhists live throughout the country. There is a
sizable indigenous population. Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world,
with more than 1,000 people per square kilometer on average.
Most visits to Bangladesh are trouble-free. However, visitors should be aware of several potential risks.
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Mugging and Purse/Bag Snatching. Mugging or purse/bag snatching, especially after dark, in
areas frequented by foreigners occurs occasionally. The perpetrators often work in pairs on
motorcycles, three-wheelers or cars and vans. Passengers using rickshaws and three-wheelers
are vulnerable, as well as pedestrians, especially women and in particular at night. The modus
operandi is for the miscreants to attempt to grab hand bags or day packs as they pass by in a car
or on a motorbike. The most serious injuries have occurred where the victims is unable or
unwilling to let go off their bag and is dragged of a rickshaw or into the road. Therefore, visitors
are advised to avoid using rickshaws and baby taxis, particularly at night. If you use a rickshaw,
either do not carry a bag or place it between your feet in such a way that, if it is grabbed, you
will not be dragged off the rickshaw.
Vehicle Accidents. Car accidents are a danger—especially at night. Avoid travel outside of cities
and towns after dark (except airport transfers) to minimize the risk of vehicle borne accidents.
Drivers should try to depart early enough to reach their destination before dark. A/C buses and
ferries are safe for travel.
Political Situation. The political situation in Bangladesh was volatile during the 2nd half of 2013
and continued until mid-January 2014. Despite serious protests that included hartals and
blockade activities countrywide, the National Parliament Election was held on 5th January as per
the amended constitution. Most of these days were frequented with violence which affected at
least 500 people, including law enforcement agency representatives and members of the
general public. As highways and rail tracks were under severe threat and several incidents of
lethal sabotage were reported, inter-district travel was risky. Although the political situation in
Bangladesh has improved, there is a risk that the situation may turn to volatile anytime.
Diplomatic Zone. Usually the diplomatic zone (Gulshan/Baridhara) is trouble-free and has very
limited incidents of violence. Therefore, you will most likely have no problem moving around the
Gulshan/Baridhara areas, but we strongly advise that you do not attempt to leave the
diplomatic zone when there is a hartal.
Climate and Seismic Activity
The months of March to June are hot and humid with temperatures as high as 40° Celsius (104° F) and as
low as 25° Celsius (77° F). Rainfall is common throughout the year, but is most common in the monsoon
season (June to October). Bangladesh is located in an active seismic zone and has relatively frequent
earthquakes of magnitude 4 to 5 on the Richter scale.
Once You Arrive
Local Telecommunications Network
You can purchase a local SIM card (with 3G facilities) to use with a mobile phone for about $3 USD by
providing a copy of your passport and two photographs. Very few pay phone booths exist in the country.
Sometimes airport security guards can provide you with phone call service from their mobile phones,
but they may charge you $1.50-2.00 USD.
Clothing and Attire
Bangladeshi people have unique dress preferences. Bangladeshi men wear Panjabi on religious and
cultural occasions; Lungi is casual wear and shirt-pants are worn on formal occasion. Women are
encouraged to dress modestly—such as a formal or casual dress that is light and loose fitting, fully
covers the legs, and has half or full sleeves. Popular clothing for women in Bangladesh include a Shari
and shalwar kameez—a pair of light, loose, pleated trousers tapering to a tight fit around the ankles
paired with a long, loose-fitting shirt or tunic. Wearing a long dress or loose long pants and a shirt, along
with a scarf when traveling in rural areas, is regarded as appropriate for women. Wearing shorts is not
encouraged outside the home for either men or women.
Greetings
While meeting others, handshakes are common between men, but are not seen as an acceptable
gesture between members of the opposite sex. Exchange of greetings is usually done between Muslim
people (regardless of sex) by saying “Assalam-alikum,” to which the appropriate reply is, “Aalikumassalam.” Bengalis hold this form of greeting in high esteem.
Printing and Internet
A business center is available in the hotel with printing, photocopy and internet capability. One
photocopy costs Tk. 25.
Banking and Currency
Banks are open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 pm (transaction hours), Sunday to Thursday. Automated Teller
Machines (ATMs), from which local currency can be withdrawn, operate 24 hours in various locations
around the city, including an ATM in the Dhaka Westin.
The local currency is the TAKA. The bank exchange rate is approximately US$1 = BDT 77.00, while the
rate at money changers is approximately US$1=BDT 78.50. The Westin Dhaka has an exchange rate of
US$1 = BDT 78 to BDT 80.
The Westin Dhaka accepts Visa, Mastercard and American Express for payment.
Restaurants
In Dhaka city, especially in the Gulshan and Banani areas, a good range of restaurants including Chinese,
Indian, Thai, Korean, Japanese, Italian and Bangladeshi food are there and within walking distances. For
larger groups or parties, it is suggested to book tables in advance. Telephone numbers and addresses of
these restaurants are available at the hotel.
Restaurants near the Westin Dhaka include:
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Istanbul Turkish Restaurant—a Turkish restaurant that is a 10 minute walk from the hotel.
Topkapi—a restaurant across the street from the Westin Dhaka that has Turkish and South Asian
cuisine.
New King Kitchen—a Chinese restaurant featuring Cantonese and Sichuan food that is a 15
minutes walk from the hotel.
Attractions
Dhaka offers visitors a number of attractions. A few that are not too far from the hotel include:
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Lalbagh Fort—An incomplete 17th century Mughal fort and its gardens.
Ahsan Manzil—The official residential palace and seat of the Dhaka Nawab family situated along
the Buriganga River.
Bangladesh National Museum—A museum dedicated to Bangladeshi history and culture.
Health and Medical Care
Medical facilities in Bangladesh do not meet Western standards, although care for basic illness and
ailments within Dhaka is generally adequate (facilities outside Dhaka are generally unsafe and
unsanitary). Travelers must have suitable insurance and be prepared to travel outside Bangladesh for
treatment. If you do fall ill while in Dhaka, general practitioners may be seen through the ICDDRB
travelers’ clinic in Mohakhali and the American International School at Baridhara. Emergency care and
stabilization of serious conditions can be done through Apollo Hospital in Bashundhara and United
Hospital in Gulshan.
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Dengue Fever is found in Bangladesh, especially in summer months and rainy season. The
former is usually restricted to specific rural areas, but the later is common in towns, including
Dhaka. Using mosquito net or mosquito repellant cream is the best protection measure.
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Tap Water is not safe to drink, so be sure the water you are drinking is bottled. You should use
bottled water even for brushing your the teeth.
Road Safety and Transport
Road safety is not up-to-the-mark. Lethal crashes are often caused by poor road conditions, speeding,
dangerous and aggressive passing, sudden maneuvers without signaling, vehicles traveling in the wrong
lane or against the flow of traffic, and by vehicles entering junctions and main roads without warning. In
Dhaka, traffic congestion means that travel times within the city vary greatly. It can take an hour or even
up to two hours to reach the city center where government offices are located. Visitors are expected to
allocate plenty of time to reach appointments, flights, etc.
Taxi services tend to be unsafe for foreigners. Please try to avoid using them. However, if you do need to
use a taxi, we recommend contacting Toma (Tel. 01755667070) or Trust (Tel. 01755667171) cab
companies by phone to get a taxi safely. The charge for taxi service from the airport to the hotel is
estimated at BDT 400.00 to BDT 600.00.
Taking vehicle service from hotel is a safe option for you. Recently, safe taxi cab services have been
introduced in Dhaka. If you want to use a safe taxi, ask the hotel reception desk.
Security Contact
Any conference participant who experiences a security problem while in Bangladesh can contact Mr.
Mahmudul Hassan, Senior Manager, Safety & Security, Save the Children in Bangladesh for support in
resolving security issues (01713450740).
Acknowledgement:
Some information in this document was adapted from the Pre-Departure
Information form of Save the Children International.