Moving to Bangladesh: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

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Population

162,650,853

Population Growth Rate

1.59%

Urban Population

28.400000

Population in Major Urban Areas

DHAKA (capital) 15.391 million; Chittagong 5.239 million; Khulna 1.781 million; Rajshahi 932,000

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Age Structure

28.270000

Median Age

23.900000

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population

22

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population

5.67

Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman

2.5

Contraceptive Prevalance Rate - female 12-49

61.2%

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 12-49

61.2%

Mean Age for Mother's First Birth (age 25-49)

18.1

Mother's mean age at first birth

18.1

Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female

1.040000

Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population

-0.52

Ethnic Groups

Bengali 98%, tribal groups, non-Bengali Muslims

Language Note

Bangla, the official language, is also spoken in India’s West Bengal. People with a university education usually speak English.

Nationality Noun

Bangladeshi(s)

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Literacy - total population

47.9%

Literacy - male

53.9%

Literacy - female

31.8%

Literacy Definition

Age 15 and over can read and write

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP

2.2%

Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)

10.000000

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Life Expectancy at Birth

70.360000

Infant Mortality Rate

47.300000

Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births

47.300000

Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births

240

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

.36

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

.6

Health Expenditures - percent of GDP

3.7%

Major Infectious Diseases - degree of risk

High

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

1.1%

Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved

85.800000

Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved

55.200000

Underweight - percent of children under five years

36.8%

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Economic Overview

Bangladesh's economy has grown roughly 6% per year since 2005 despite prolonged periods of political instability, poor infrastructure, endemic corruption, insufficient power supplies, and slow implementation of economic reforms.

Although more than half of GDP is generated through the services sector, almost half of Bangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector, with rice as the single-most-important product.

Garments, the backbone of Bangladesh's industrial sector, accounted for more than 80% of total exports in FY 2016-17.

The industrial sector continues to grow, despite the need for improvements in factory safety conditions.

Steady export growth in the garment sector, combined with $13 billion in remittances from overseas Bangladeshis, contributed to Bangladesh's rising foreign exchange reserves in FY 2016-17.

Recent improvements to energy infrastructure, including the start of liquefied natural gas imports in 2018, represent a major step forward in resolving a key growth bottleneck.

Industries

Jute, cotton, garments, paper, leather, fertilizer, iron and steel, cement, petroleum products, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, tea, salt, sugar, edible oils, soap and detergent, fabricated metal products, electricity, natural gas

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$3,900.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

6.9%

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GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)

$793,490,000,000 (USD)

GDP Per Capita

$3,900.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

6.9%

GDP - official exchange rate

$226,800,000,000 (USD)

GDP - composition, by end use

• Consumption: 70.3% Government
• Consumption: 5.2% Investment in Fixed
• Capital: 28.2% Investment in
• Inventories: 3% Exports of Goods and
• Services: 16.5% Imports of Goods and
• Services: -23.2%

GDP by Sector- agriculture

15.1%

GDP by Sector- Industry

28.6%

GDP by Sector- services

56.3%

Industrial Growth Rate

8.4%

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Inflation Rate

5.6%

Exchange Rate per US Dollar

78.5

Currency Name and Code

Bangladeshi Taka (BDT)

Fiscal Year

1 July - 30 June

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

10.7%

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Labor Force

83,590,000

Unemployment Rate

4.9%

Unemployment - note

About 40% of the population is underemployed

many persons counted as employed work only a few hours a week and at low wages

Major Industries

Jute, cotton, garments, paper, leather, fertilizer, iron and steel, cement, petroleum products, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, tea, salt, sugar, edible oils, soap and detergent, fabricated metal products, electricity, natural gas

Agriculture Products

Rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, tobacco, pulses, oilseeds, spices, fruit; beef, milk, poultry

Population Below Poverty Line

31.5%

Child Labor - # of children ages 5-14

4,485,497

Child Labor - % of children ages 5-14

13%

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Labor Force By Occupation- agriculture

47%

Labor Force By Occupation- industry

13%

Labor Force By Occupation- services

40%

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Annual Budget

$23,780,000,000 (USD)

Public Debt (% of GDP)

25.9%

Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP

-5.1%

Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP

10.5%

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Full Country Name

People's Republic of Bangladesh

Country Name

Bangladesh

Local - Long

Gana Prajatantri Bangladesh

Local - Short

Bangladesh

Former Name

East Bengal, East Pakistan

Etymology- history of name

the name - a compound of the Bengali words "Bangla" (Bengal) and "desh" (country) - means "Country of Bengal"

Independence

16 December 1971 (from Pakistan)

National Holiday

• Independence Day, 26 March (1971)
• Victory Day, 16 December (1971)
• note - 26 March 1971 is the date of the Awami League's declaration of an independent Bangladesh, and 16 December (Victory Day) memorializes the military victory over Pakistan and the official creation of the state of Bangladesh

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Government Type

parliamentary republic

Constitution

• history: previous 1935, 1956, 1962 (preindependence); latest enacted 4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended March 1982, restored November 1986
• amendments: proposed by the House of the Nation; approval requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the House membership and assent of the president of the republic; amended many times, last in 2018

Legal System:

mixed legal system of mostly English common law and Islamic law

Executive Branch:

• chief of state: President Mohammad SHAHABUDDIN Chuppi (since 24 April 2023)
• head of government: Tarique Rahman was sworn in as the new Prime Minister (since February 17, 2026
• cabinet: Cabinet selected by the prime minister, appointed by the president election/appointment
• process: president indirectly elected by the National Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); the president appoints as prime minister the majority party leader in the National Parliament most recent election
• date: 13 February 2023
• election results: President Mohammad SHAHABUDDIN Chuppi (AL) elected unopposed by the National Parliament; Sheikh HASINA reappointed prime minister for a fifth term following the 7 January 2024 parliamentary election; note - Sheikh HASINA resigned and fled the country on 5 August 2024 following mass protests against her government in July and August 2024, and Mohammad YUNIS was appointed as interim Prime Minister on 8 August 2024 expected date of next
• election: 2028

Legislative Branch:

• Description: unicameral House of the Nation or Jatiya Sangsad (350 seats; 300 members in single-seat territorial constituencies directly elected by simple majority vote; 50 members - reserved for women only - indirectly elected by the House of the Nation membership by proportional representation vote using single transferable vote method; all members serve 5-year terms)
• Elections: last held on 7 January 2024 (next to be held in 2029)
• Election Results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party (directly elected) - AL 223, JP 11, other 3, independent 62, vacant 1; composition as of January 2024 - men 279, women 20, percent of women 6.7%

Judicial Branch:

• office: chief justice and justices appointed by the president; justices serve until retirement at age 67
• subordinate courts: civil courts
• include: Assistant Judge's Court; Joint District Judge's Court; Additional District Judge's Court; District Judge's Court; criminal courts
• include: Court of Sessions; Court of Metropolitan Sessions; Metropolitan Magistrate Courts; Magistrate Court; special courts/tribunals

Regions or States:

8 divisions Barishal, Chattogram, Dhaka, Khulna, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sylhet

Political Parties and Leaders:

• Awami League or AL [Sheikh HASINA]
• Bangladesh Jamaat-i-Islami or JIB [Shafiqur RAHMAN]
• Bangladesh Kalyan Party or BKP [Syed Muhammad [IBRAHIM]
• Bangladesh Nationalist Front or BNF [S. M. Abul Kalam AZAD]
• Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP [Tarique RAHMAN, acting chairperson
• Begum Khaleda ZIA]
• Bangladesh Tariqat Federation or BTF [Syed Nozibul Bashar MAIZBHANDARI]
• Jatiya Party or JP (Ershad faction) [Rowshan ERSHAD]
• Jatiya Party or JP (Manju faction) [Anwar Hossain MANJU]
• Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Oli AHMED]
• National Socialist Party (Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal) or JSD [Hasanul Haque INU]
• Workers Party or WP [Rashed Khan MENON]

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship Criteria:

• birth: no citizenship by descent
• only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Bangladesh dual citizenship
• recognized: yes, but limited to select countries residency requirement for
• naturalization: 5 years

Capital Name

Dhaka

Capital - geographic coordinate

23 43 N, 90 24 E

Capital Time Difference

UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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International Organization Participation:

• ADB
• ARF
• BIMSTEC
• CD
• CICA (observer)
• CP
• D-8
• FAO
• G-77
• IAEA
• IBRD
• ICAO
• ICC (national committees)
• ICRM
• IDA
• IDB
• IFAD
• IFC
• IFRCS
• IHO
• ILO
• IMF
• IMO
• IMSO
• Interpol
• IOC
• IOM
• IPU
• ISO
• ITSO
• ITU
• ITUC (NGOs)
• MIGA
• MINURSO
• MONUSCO
• NAM
• OIC
• OPCW
• PCA
• SAARC
• SACEP
• UN
• UNAMID
• UNCTAD
• UNESCO
• UNHCR
• UNIDO
• UNISFA
• UNIFIL
• UNMIL
• UNMISS
• UNOCI
• UNOOSA
• UNWTO
• UPU
• WCO
• WFTU (NGOs)
• WHO
• WIPO
• WMO
• WTO

International Law Organization Participation:

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Diplomatic Representation from US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Peter HAAS (since 15 March 2022)
• Embassy: Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka - 1212
• Mailing Address: 6120 Dhaka Place, Washington DC 20521-6120
• Telephone: [880] (2) 5566-2000
• FAX: [880] (2) 5566-2907
• Email: DhakaACS@state.gov
• Website: https://bd.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic Representation in the US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Muhammad IMRAN (since 12 December 2022)
• Chancery: 3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
• Telephone: [1] (202) 244-0183
• FAX: [1] (202) 244-2771
• Email: mission.washington@mofa.gov.bd
• Website: http://www.bdembassyusa.org/
• Consulate(s) General: Los Angeles, New York

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Geographic Location

Asia

Geographic Coordinates

24 00 N, 90 00 E

Total Area

55,598 Square Miles 143,998 Square Kilometers

Land Area

50,258 Square Miles 130,168 Square Kilometers

Water Area

5,340 Square Miles 13,830 Square Kilometers

Land Boundaries

2,638 Miles 4,246 Kilometers

Border Countries

Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km

Coastline

360 Miles 580 Kilometers

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Terrain

Mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast

Highest Point

1,230 Meters

Highest Point Location

Keokradong 1,230 m

Lowest Point Location

Indian Ocean 0 m

Natural Resources

Natural gas, arable land, timber, coal

Irrigated Land

19,498 Square Miles 50,500 Square Kilometers

Time Zone

UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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Climate

The climate of Bangladesh ranges from subtropical to tropical.

The humidity remains high all year and reaches between 90%-95% from June to September.

Bangladesh has three main seasons.

The mild (70s °F) or cold season, from mid-October to the end of February, is characterized by sunny skies, drier weather, and cool (high 50s °F) evenings.

During the hot season, from March until the end of May, there is quite a change.

The early part is pleasant (75°F), but as the monsoon approaches, hot (95°F) temperatures and high humidity make life difficult.

The monsoon season lasts from June to October.

At the beginning of the monsoon, the continuous rains cool the atmosphere.

Temperatures are milder (85°F to 90°F), but the humidity can be oppressive.

Tropical cyclones emerge from the Bay of Bengal with high winds and tidal waves on the average of one major cyclone every 3 years.

There are two cyclone seasons, one just before the monsoon (May to June) and one just after the monsoon (October to November).

Damage generally is limited to the southern finger of the country (east of Chittagong and Cox's Bazaar).

During the monsoon season in a normal year, about 30% of the country is under water.

Some years, however, floods cover 70% of the country.

At some times during the year, up to 70% of the country is under water.

Annual flooding is a way of life but often the flooding is not due to rainfall but caused by water coming from across the borders via the Ganges, Meghna, and the Brahmaputra Rivers.

Terrain

Mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast

Location

Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India

Total Area

55,598 Square Miles 143,998 Square Kilometers

Border Countries

Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km

Environment - Current Issues

• Many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land
• water-borne diseases prevalent in surface water
• water pollution, especially in fishing areas, results from the use of commercial pesticides
• ground water contaminated by naturally occurring arsenic
• intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country
• soil degradation and erosion
• deforestation
• severe overpopulation

Environment - International Agreements

Party To: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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Exports

$33,320,000,000 (USD)

Imports

$39,170,000,000 (USD)

Major Exports

Garments, knitwear, agricultural products, frozen food (fish and seafood), jute and jute goods, leather

Major Imports

Cotton, machinery and equipment, chemicals, iron and steel, foodstuffs

Top Export Partners

United States 13.9%, Germany 12.9%, UK 8.9%, France 5%, Spain 4.7%

Top Import Partners

China 22.4%, India 14.1%, Singapore 5.2%

Export Partners

United States 13.9%, Germany 12.9%, UK 8.9%, France 5%, Spain 4.7%

Import Partners

China 22.4%, India 14.1%, Singapore 5.2%

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Country Description

Bangladesh is located on the northern edge of the Bay of Bengal, is bordered on three sides by India, and shares a small border with Burma.

Approximately 150 million people inhabit Bangladesh, which has a land area of 55,598 square miles, slightly smaller than the size of Iowa.

This seventh most populous nation is one of the most crowded countries in the world, ranked fifth in population density.

Bangladesh consists primarily of low-lying deltaic plains.

The Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers (known as the Padma and Jamuna in Bangladesh) and countless smaller tributaries criss-cross the country.

The capital, Dhaka, is fewer than 25 feet above sea level.

During the monsoon season from June to October, between 30% and 70% of the country is under water due to flooding of rivers.

Heavy rainfall is characteristic of Bangladesh, with most parts of the country receiving about 200 centimeters (80 inches) of rainfall per year.

Annual cyclones can cause extreme flooding and have led to great losses of life and property damage.

Bangladesh is a parliamentary democracy with a unicameral legislature.

The nation remains a developing country with severe infrastructure shortcomings.

Tourist facilities are minimal as are capacities to deal with emergency situations.

Though by almost any gauge Bangladesh remains a developing country, the impact of two decades of nearly six percent annual growth is visible throughout the country, in particular in Dhaka.

Meanwhile, the partnership between Bangladesh and its development partners has placed the country on track to meet many of its Millennium Development Goals, according to a 2011 Progress Report by the United Nations Development Program.

Bangladeshis now can expect to live longer, infant and maternal mortality have been dramatically reduced at a rate with few parallels in human history, and the living standards and opportunities afforded to women and children have noticeably improved.

Moreover, both rural and urban incomes have increased and food production satisfies Bangladesh’s domestic needs.

Safety & Security

In Bangladesh, a common method for political parties and other organizations to articulate their political demands is by calling for a hartal, or general strike.

Hartals, whose purpose is to disrupt or shut down services either locally or throughout the country, can turn violent if the population, or political groups, enforce the shutdown.

Even demonstrations that are meant to be peaceful can become violent and unpredictable.

Current sources of political and social unrest include displeasure over verdicts from Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal, labor disputes, and preparations for national elections scheduled for early 2014.

These demonstrations have led to frequent violent clashes between police and protesters, resulting in deaths, injuries, and property damage.

In various areas of the country, demonstrators have blocked highways and roads to all traffic and have damaged rail tracks and trains.

Participants have thrown rocks, debris, and homemade low-yield explosives.

Security forces have used tear gas, non-lethal crowd control measures, and firearms against demonstrators.

Protests have centered in major metropolitan areas, including Dhaka, Sylhet, and Chittagong, but have also taken place throughout the country, including rural areas.

The U.S.

Department of State strongly urges U.S. citizens to avoid all demonstrations in Bangladesh.

A foreigner could become caught in the middle of these conflicts.

There have been no direct attacks on U.S. citizens or indications of targeting foreigners; however, in isolated instances, Westerners and U.S. citizens have been caught in the middle of clashes and demonstrations or stranded when highways have been blocked.

U.S. citizens are urged to remain alert to local security developments and to be vigilant regarding their personal security by knowing the locations of police and fire stations, hospitals, and other places to relocate to feel secure.

U.S. citizens should also carry identification and, if moving about alone, a cell phone or radio, or other means of communication that work in Bangladesh.

Be alert and aware of your surroundings and pay attention to local news reports.

U.S. citizens in Bangladesh are encouraged to make common-sense plans to deal with security situations and to investigate alternative means of communication in-country, evacuation insurance, and alternative destinations both within and outside the country in case of emergency.

If you are concerned for your security you should exercise personal responsibility, remove yourself from the situation and relocate to an area where you feel secure.

While the diplomatic enclave—which includes the areas of Banani, Baridhara, and Gulshan—in Dhaka is generally safe, political violence can take place within this area.

U.S. citizens should contact the American Citizens Services section before attempting to come to the U.S.

Embassy.

Visitors to Bangladesh should check U.S.

Embassy Dhaka’s website for updated information on the current political and security situation.

During times of nationwide demonstrations and hartals, US Embassy personnel and their family members are restricted to staying in the diplomatic enclave in Dhaka.

When traveling outside of Dhaka, they are restricted to staying in their hotel or other safe accommodations.

The U.S.

Embassy also recommends that in times of demonstrations, national strikes, or elections, U.S. citizens avoid Roads 79 and 86 in the Gulshan-2 area of Dhaka.

One of the major national political party’s headquarters is located on Road 86, while the party leader’s residence is on Road 79.

Large unscheduled events occur frequently and usually spill out onto these roads, making them impassable and potentially dangerous.

In addition, Noya Paltan area in Dhaka, Baitul Mukarram Mosque (National Mosque), Muktangan (bordered by Baitul Mukarram Mosque to the east, the General Post Office (GPO) to the south, the Secretariat to the West, and Topkhana Road to the North), and Topkhana-Motijheel Road

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Crime

The Department of State rates Dhaka as having a high crime rate; the types of crime are comparable to any other world capital or large city.

Always take precautions such as being alert and aware, locking home and vehicle doors, varying routes, and schedules, traveling in groups, never walking alone at night, and parking near entrances or security lamps.

Hiring a 24-hour guard is highly recommended due to the possibility of trespassing and break-ins.

In general, crime dramatically increases in the hours of darkness; this includes dusk and dawn.

Urban crime can be organized or opportunistic, conducted by individuals or groups, and commonly encompasses fraud, theft (larceny, pick-pocketing, and snatch-and-grab), robbery (armed and unarmed), carjacking, rape, assault, and burglary (home and auto).

Incidents of crime and levels of violence are higher in low-income residential and congested commercial areas but are seen in wealthier areas as well, including the Diplomatic Enclave in Dhaka.

Many of the reported attacks occurred while the victims were riding in rickshaws; other incidents involved the targeting of small groups of foreigners on foot.

To reduce your risk while riding in a rickshaw, keep your bags or valuables under your legs, away from passing vehicle traffic, and ensure that your bag’s carrying straps are not visible.

For security reasons, Embassy personnel are prohibited from riding in taxis, buses, rickshaws in Dhaka (outside of Dhaka’s Diplomatic Enclave), and engine-powered rickshaws (also known as CNGs or auto-rickshaws) and recommends that U.S. citizens exercise similar caution.

Although U.S. embassy personnel may use trains in Bangladesh, travelers are warned to use extreme caution as trains in Bangladesh are known to be boarded by robbers at all hours of the day on all routes, and larceny commonly occurs.

Avoid carrying or displaying large sums of money or wearing expensive jewelry and be aware of your surroundings when you use ATMs.

Valuables should be stored in hotel safety deposit boxes and should not be left unattended in hotel rooms.

Taxis, if available at all, are unsafe and unreliable.

Long-term visitors typically hire a car and driver; short-term visitors should hire a car through their hotel and arrange in advance with their hotel or another reliable party for pickup by hotel vehicle or similar transportation.

Women should observe stringent security precautions, including avoiding the use of public transport after dark without the company of known and trustworthy companions, restricting evening entertainment to well-known venues, and avoiding isolated areas when alone at any time of day.

Keep your hotel room number confidential and make sure hotel room doors have chains, deadlocks, and spy holes.

Hire only reliable cars and drivers and avoid traveling in vehicles hailed on the street.

Police are generally responsive to reports of crimes against U.S. citizens.

However, crimes often go unsolved or unprosecuted.

If you are assaulted, the Embassy recommends that you not fight with your attacker.

Flee to a safe area and report the situation to the local authorities.

Let go of your purse or backpack rather than fight to retain possession of it.

Use hotel safes or lock-boxes for valuables.

We encourage all U.S. citizens to carry their mobile phones with them at all times and to travel in pairs or groups.

It is also a good idea to travel with a native Bangla speaker if you intend to travel outside urban areas.

Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available.

Not only is it illegal in the United States, you may be breaking local law too.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in another country, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen.

Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own.

In some places, you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you.

In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings.

In some places, driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail.

These criminal penalties will vary from country to country.

There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States.

You can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods, engage in sexual conduct with children, or use or disseminate child pornography in a foreign country.

If you break local laws in Bangladesh, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not wherever you go.

Persons violating Bangladeshi laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.

The death penalty exists in Bangladesh.

Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs in Bangladesh are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

While the Bangladesh Constitution enshrines a right to a speedy trial, the interpretation of “speedy” is broad by international standards, and protracted judicial proceedings are common in Bangladesh.

Languages Bangla, the official language, is also spoken in India’s West Bengal.

People with a university education usually speak English.

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Medical Facilities

The general level of sanitation and health care in Bangladesh is far below U.S. and European standards.

There is limited ambulance service in Bangladesh and attendants seldom are trained to provide the level of care seen in the United States.

Traffic congestion and lack of a modern centralized emergency services system (on par with 911 in the U.S.) make patient transport slow and inefficient.

Several hospitals in Dhaka (e.g., United, Apollo, and Square Hospitals) have emergency rooms that are equipped at the level of a community hospital, but most expatriates leave the country for all but the simplest medical procedures.

Hospitals in the provinces are less well-equipped and supplied.

Psychological and psychiatric services are limited throughout Bangladesh.

There have been reports of counterfeit medications within the country, but medication from major pharmacies and hospitals is generally reliable.

Medical evacuations to Bangkok or Singapore are often necessary for serious conditions or surgical procedures and can cost thousands of dollars.

See the Medical Insurance section below for useful information.

Despite government efforts, community sanitation and public health programs are inadequate in Bangladesh.

Water supplies in Bangladesh are generally not potable.

Typhoid fever, cholera, infectious hepatitis, giardia, cyclospora, and bacillary and amebic dysentery are only a few of the serious diseases transmitted by impure drinking water.

Bottled drinking water, especially in major brands, is generally safe for consumption.

Fecal-oral contamination is common; improperly prepared meat and improperly cleaned vegetables can lead to food-borne illnesses such as cysticercosis, neurocysticercosis, and campylobacteriosis plus hepatitis A, B, C, and E.

Press reports indicate that fish and other raw foods are frequently treated with formalin to slow decomposition, that fruits, particularly bananas, are generally treated with chemicals to speed ripening, that milk products are adulterated with melamine, and vegetables tend to show elevated levels of arsenic due to contaminated groundwater.

Washing, soaking, peeling, and thoroughly cooking food are mandatory procedures to minimize chemical, insecticide, bacterial, and parasitic contamination.

Multiple strains of influenza continue to circulate annually in Bangladesh including the H1N1 influenza A pandemic strain.

Peak influenza circulation occurs during the rainy season, approximately May through October.

CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against the most common influenza viruses (seasonal flu).

For more information about seasonal influenza, please refer to the CDC’s Seasonal Flu website.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus H5N1 (Bird flu) has been circulating among poultry in the country since 2007 and outbreaks continue to occur nationwide.

The most recent outbreak occurred in October 2012.

In response to the ongoing circulation of H5N1 in the country, the government has planned to start a pilot H5N1 vaccination program among domestic poultry.

There are concerns from a human health perspective about the use of poultry vaccine which minimizes signs of illness in the birds but does not confer sterilizing immunity, as we could have the silent circulation of the virus in the birds, with continued human exposure.

The US Center for Disease Control (CDC) is reviewing its current surveillance platforms with a plan to increase its monitoring of H5N1 circulation among healthy-looking birds sold in markets.

Although avian influenza A viruses usually do not infect humans, rare cases of human infection with avian influenza A viruses have been reported, most often following direct or close contact with infected poultry.

As Bangladesh continues to be affected by H5N1, it is recommended to avoid poultry farms, contact with birds in live food markets, and to avoid consumption of poultry products that are not thoroughly cooked.

For information on

Traffic Safety

While in a foreign country, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

The information below concerning Bangladesh is provided for general reference only, and may not apply to every location.

Conditions differ around the country.

The current political situation in Bangladesh has affected road travel.

The media reports political activists putting logs, large rocks, debris, and burned tires on various roads in the country to block the roads for vehicle travel.

The media have reported that tourists and business travelers were stranded in Cox’s Bazar as a result of one such blockage on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway.

Traffic in Bangladesh moves on the left, the opposite of U.S. traffic.

Roads are extremely crowded, particularly in the cities, with bicycles, rickshaws, three-wheeled mini-taxis (CNGs), cars, overloaded buses, and trucks all vying for road space and right of way.

Drivers are often unlicensed, aggressive, risk-taking, and poorly trained.

Many vehicles, particularly large trucks and buses, are badly maintained and driven by inexperienced young men who recently arrived from rural Bangladesh seeking quick employment.

Exercise extreme caution when crossing streets, even in areas frequented by pedestrians.

When in vehicles, use seatbelts if available, though seatbelts are not common in taxis.

Helmets should always be worn on motorcycles and bicycles.

Roads, including most major highways, are poorly maintained and often lack safe shoulders and have numerous potholes, sharp drop-offs, and barriers that are not sign-posted.

Speed limits and other traffic laws are not commonly posted and are rarely observed by motorists in any case.

Drivers should exercise extreme caution when traveling at night by road, as many vehicles do not have proper illumination and most roads are inadequately lighted or signed.

Rickshaws rarely have any lighting on them at all.

Traveling by road without an experienced local driver or guide is not recommended.

On Bangladeshi roads, the safest driving policy is to always assume that other drivers will not respond to a traffic situation in the same way you would in the United States.

On Bangladeshi roads, large vehicles generally take the right-of-way.

Cars, buses, and trucks often run red lights and merge directly into traffic at yield points and traffic circles without stopping.

Rickshaws, bicycles, and pedestrians behave only slightly more cautiously.

The practice of frequently using one’s car horn or flashing high-beam headlights to announce one’s presence is the norm in all areas of Bangladesh at all times of day or night.

Road accidents, including fatal head-on collisions, are common in Bangladesh.

If a serious accident occurs, or if a driver hits a pedestrian or a cow, crowds quickly gather and the behavior of the crowd is often unpredictable.

In these cases, some members of the crowd may try to assist injured parties, while other individuals may seek to impose their own sense of justice on responsible parties.

The vehicle and its occupants may be at risk of being attacked in such circumstances depending on who the crowd believes is at fault and what damage occurred.

Such attacks may pose a significant risk of injury or death to the vehicle's occupants or at least incineration of the vehicle.

It is unsafe to remain at the scene of an accident of this nature, and drivers may instead wish to seek out the nearest police station.

Travelers are strongly urged not to use public transportation, including buses, rickshaws, and CNGs due to their high accident rate and crime issues.

An alternative to consider is a rental car and driver, riding a bicycle if experienced with urban cycling, or walking.

Banditry and carjacking, particularly along inter-city highways, have been known to occur but are unusual.

Those using these roads should exercise particular vigilance.

Protestors and street demonstrators, especially during times of local and national elections, oft

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Airports - total

18

Airports with Paved Runways

16

Heliports

3

Railways

1,629 Miles 2,622 Kilometers

Roadways- total

13,216 Miles 21,269 Kilometers

Roadways- paved

661 Miles 1,063 Kilometers

Waterways

5,201 Miles 8,370 Kilometers

Ports and Terminals

Chittagong, Dhaka, Mongla Port, Narayanganj

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Pipelines: Gas

1,833 Miles 2,950 Kilometers

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Telephones

1,522,000

Cell Phones

34,370,000

Internet Users

500,000

Internet Country Code

.bd

Internet Hosts

68,224

Broadcast Media

• Note: state-owned Bangladesh Television (BTV) operates 1 terrestrial TV station, 3 radio networks, and about 10 local stations
• 8 private satellite TV stations and 3 private radio stations also broadcasting
• foreign satellite TV stations are gaining audience share in the large cities
• several international radio broadcasters are available

Telephone System

• Assessment: inadequate for a modern country; introducing digital systems; trunk systems include VHF and UHF microwave radio relay links and some fiber-optic cable in cities
• Domestic: fixed-line teledensity remains only about 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has been increasing rapidly and now exceeds 50 telephones per 100 persons
• International: country code - 880; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-4 fiber-optic submarine cable system that provides links to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 6; international radiotelephone communications and landline service to neighboring countries

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Electricity Consumption- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

23,940,000,000

Electricity Production- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

25,620,000,000

Natural Gas Consumption - Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

19,910,000,000

Natural Gas Production- Cubic Meters (cu m)

20,110,000,000

Natural Gas Reserves- Cubic Meters (cu m)

183,700,000,000

Oil Consumption- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

108,900

Oil Imports- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

23,620

Oil Production- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

6,825

Oil Reserves- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

28,000,000

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Anthem History

The anthem was adopted in 1971; Rabindranath TAGORE, a Nobel laureate, also wrote India's national anthem

Anthem Lyrics

Amar Shonar Bangla (My Golden Bengal) My Bengal of gold, I love you Forever your skies, your air set my heart in tune as if it were a flute, In Spring, Oh mother mine, the fragrance from your mango-groves makes me wild with joy- Ah, what a thrill! In Autumn, Oh mother mine, in the full-blossomes paddy fields, I have seen spread all over - sweet smiles!

Ah, what a beauty, what shades, what an affection and what a tenderness! What a quilt have you spread at the feet of banyan trees and along the banks of rivers!

Oh mother mine, words from your lips are like Nectar to my ears! Ah, what a thrill!

If sadness, Oh mother mine, casts a gloom on your face, my eyes are filled with tears!

Anthem Lyrics English

Amar Shonar Bangla (My Golden Bengal) My Bengal of gold, I love you Forever your skies, your air set my heart in tune as if it were a flute, In Spring, Oh mother mine, the fragrance from your mango-groves makes me wild with joy- Ah, what a thrill! In Autumn, Oh mother mine, in the full-blossomes paddy fields, I have seen spread all over - sweet smiles!

Ah, what a beauty, what shades, what an affection and what a tenderness! What a quilt have you spread at the feet of banyan trees and along the banks of rivers!

Oh mother mine, words from your lips are like Nectar to my ears! Ah, what a thrill!

If sadness, Oh mother mine, casts a gloom on your face, my eyes are filled with tears!