Bangladesh

Understand

On land it is nearly completely surrounded by India, but it also has a coast and a short land border with Myanmar. Bangladesh (Bengali: BAHNG-lah-daysh) is one of the most ethnically homogeneous countries in the world, with Bengalis making up 98% of the population. It has the world's highest population density (excepting microstates such as city-states). The country has one of the largest Muslim populations in the world; nine Bangladeshis out of ten are Sunni Muslims. In the partition of India in 1947, after independence from the British Raj, Bangladesh became a part of Pakistan. In 1971, it became an independent country.

Etymology The word "Bangladesh" literally means "Land of Bengal" or "Bengal Country". The exact origin of the words "Bangla" and "Bengal" is uncertain (see Bengal#Name). The country is officially known as the "People's Republic of Bangladesh". Although the term "People's Republic" is commonly associated with communist states, Bangladesh is not a communist country. The term was adopted primarily because Bangladesh gained its independence through a revolutionary struggle.

History The country's history goes as far back as 1500 BC, the Chalcolithic period, and the area has long been known as a melting pot of various cultures and civilisations. Islam came to South Asia some time around the 8th century, and during the 11th century, almost everyone peacefully converted to Islam. Later, Bangladesh became part of the British Raj. In the 1940s, India was partitioned into two states: Pakistan, a separate homeland for Muslims in South Asia, and India. Princely states were given three choices: join India, join Pakistan, or be independent. It was during this time when Bengal was partitioned into two separate territories. Muslim-majority East Bengal became a

See

Bangladesh has many UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is a country with lots of places to visit, many of which offer unforgettable experiences but remain relatively unknown to the rest of the world. As a vacation destination Bangladesh has many facets, the main one being eco-tourism. Some of the tourist attractions include archaeological sites, historic mosques and monuments, resorts, beaches, picnic spots, forest and wildlife. Bangladesh offers

Getting there

Visas

Most foreigners require some kind of valid visa to enter Bangladesh, though many are eligible for a 30-day visa on arrival (see section below). It's often recommended to instead apply for a visa in advance if possible, even if you're eligible for a visa on arrival (VOA), because it leaves you less at the mercy of border officials, who could decline your VOA on a whim and ruin your whole trip as soon as you fly into Dhaka. However, this kind of denial seems to be uncommon – at least in the experience of Western tourists. Depending on the details though, an advance visa may also be useful for staying in the country longer or getting permission for multiple entries. The procedure to obtain a visa in advance is to first obtain an Invitation Letter from a tour company in Bangladesh or, in case of business travellers, obtain a business appointment or an invitation from a company in Bangladesh. Then submit an online visa application at the Bangladesh government website (Visa.Gov.Bd) at least three weeks before the intended travel date. Take a printout of the completed visa application form because it has to be physically submitted as well. Then visit the nearest Bangladeshi Embassy or Bangladeshi Consulate General or Bangladeshi High Commission with all the required supporting documents, passport, applicant's photos and payment. Check the visa application instructions of the Bangladeshi diplomatic mission closest to you before applying. The visa is usually issued within five to seven working days, depending on the total volume of applications. Most Bangladeshi diplomatic missions offer a mail-in service for visa applicants, which means applicants do not have to travel to the embassy to apply for a visa in person. The benefit of applying for a visa beforehand is gett

Getting around

By plane Air travel in Bangladesh is very affordable and convenient. There are airports in all of the division capitals as well as Jessore, Cox's Bazar and some other small cities. The national carrier is Biman Bangladesh Airlines. It is commonly known as Biman locally. Most of the domestic airports are served by either Biman Bangladesh Airlines or their private competitors. As of 2019, Novoair, Regent Airways and US-Bangla Airlines are the main private airlines offering excellent domestic and international flights. Novoair is the latest airline to join the club and has Embraer jet aircraft giving very short flight times. Most of the other private operators use either Bombardier DASH-8 or Boeing aircraft. Improvements to the national trunk road network mean that domestic air travel is declining as of 2025.

By helicopter There are quite a few helicopter services available for hire in Bangladesh for transportation, tourism, medical evacuation (Medevac) or film-footage services. Any reputable travel agent will know full details.

By rickshaw If you can speak Bengali fluently, rickshaws are useful for short distances. However, rickshaws are banned on major highways and roads. Agree on the fare before you ride and make sure they understand where you want to go because most rickshaw pullers do not speak English. Otherwise get a local to translate for you and to fix the fare beforehand.

By CNG Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered auto-rickshaws are also popular for short distances. Auto-rickshaws are banned on major highways and some roads because they are considered slow moving traffic. Agree on the fare beforehand and make sure they understand where you want to go. If you do not speak Bengali fluently, ask a local to translate for you and to fix the fare beforehand