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Bangladesh
Country Specific Information
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November 23, 2007
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: 
Bangladesh is a democratic republic with a parliamentary form of government. On January 11, 2007, President Iajuddin Ahmed
declared a state of emergency that suspended all civil and political liberties. The nationwide elections scheduled for January
22 were indefinitely postponed. On April 12, 2007, Chief Advisor to the caretaker government, Fakhruddin Ahmed, announced
that elections would be held before the end of 2008. Bangladesh is a developing country with poor infrastructure. Tourist
facilities outside major cities and tourist areas are minimal. Read the Department of State Background Notes on Bangladesh for additional information.
New visa rules, introduced in October 2006, require foreign nationals who come to Bangladesh to work or for long-term visits to have the appropriate work permits and clearances on arrival. There are increased financial penalties for overstaying visas. Additionally, those who overstay for more than 90 days face the possibility of being charged with violating the Foreigners Act of 1946. For further information on these rules, please check with the nearest Bangladeshi Embassy or Consulate (U.S. addresses listed below) before traveling, or visit the Bangadeshi Immigration Police web site, which provides further details on rules relating to Foreigner Registrations.
If you intend to use Dhaka as a hub from which to visit other countries in the region, ensure that you obtain a multiple-entry
visa before arrival. If you intend to work for a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Bangladesh you should ensure that
your sponsor has provided you with up-to-date advice on the kind of visa you must obtain before arrival. It is difficult
and time-consuming to change your immigration status once you have arrived in Bangladesh.
Visas to Bangladesh which are expiring may be extended at the Directorate of Immigration and Passport, located at Sher-e-Bangla
Nagar, Agargaon, Dhaka. The phone numbers are (880-2) 913-1891 and 913-4011.
There are two exit requirements:
A. When traveling by air, there is a departure tax on all foreigners except children under the age of two. This tax is often
included when air tickets are purchased. Otherwise, it is collected at the airport at the time of departure. The amount
of the departure tax varies, depending on the destination (e.g., the departure tax for the U.S. is the most expensive, at
USD $43). There is no travel tax for transit passengers transiting Bangladesh without a visa and in country for 72 hours
or fewer. These requirements may be subject to change, and travelers are advised to check with the Embassy of Bangladesh
before traveling.
B. Departing foreign nationals are also required to comply with the income tax ordinance of 1984 and submit an income tax
clearance certificate/income tax exemption certificate to local airline offices upon departure from Bangladesh. More information
can be obtained from the Bangladesh Board of Revenue web site at http://www.nbr-bd.org/.
For further information on entry requirements and possible exceptions to the exit requirements, please contact the Embassy
of the People's Republic of Bangladesh (3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008, telephone 202-244-0183, fax 202-244-5366,
web site http://www.bangladoot.org), or the Bangladeshi Consulates in New York (211 E. 43rd Street, Suite 502, New York, NY 10017, telephone 212-599-6767),
or Los Angeles (10850 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1250, Los Angeles, CA 90024, telephone 310-441-9399). Visit the Embassy of
Bangladesh web site at http://www.bangladoot.org for the most current visa information.
Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our web site. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information sheet.
SAFETY AND SECURITY: Bangladesh is currently under a state of emergency. Elections have been postponed until late 2008. The security situation in Bangladesh is fluid, and Americans are urged to check with the U.S. Embassy for the latest information. Spontaneous demonstrations take place in Bangladesh from time to time in response to world events or local developments. We remind American citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possible escalate into violence. American citizens are therefore urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations if possible, and to exercise caution if within the vicinity of any demonstrations. American citizens should stay up-to-date with media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings at all times. Information regarding demonstrations in Bangladesh can be found on the U.S. Embassy Dhaka’s website at http://dhaka.usembassy.gov/.A terrorist bombing campaign in the second half of 2005, political violence throughout the country at the end of 2006, and threats to U.S. and Western interests led to increased security around U.S. Government facilities. On August 17, 2005, a banned Islamist terrorist group, Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), claimed responsibility for nearly 500 coordinated small bomb blasts in virtually every part of Bangladesh that killed two persons and injured several dozen. The most recent JMB bombing occurred on December 8, 2005, and the Bangladeshi government subsequently apprehended the known senior leadership of JMB. Six JMB leaders convicted of complicity in JMB attacks were executed on March 29, 2007. JMB and other extremist groups are small in number but remain active and may resume violent activities.
Demonstrations, political activity, and hartals (nationwide strikes) are banned during the state of emergency. Prior to the state of emergency, rallies, marches, demonstrations and hartals were scheduled frequently. In August 2007 violent protests involving thousands of demonstrators occurred in several cities in Bangladesh. Authorities imposed a curfew to restore calm. Protests involving workers from the large garment-manufacturing industry are not uncommon. Visitors to Bangladesh should check with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka for updated information on the current political situation.
Due to kidnappings and other security incidents, including those involving foreign nationals, U.S. citizens are advised against traveling to the Khagrachari, Rangamati and Bandarban Hill Tracts districts (collectively known as the Chittagong Hill Tracts). Foreigners traveling in the Chittagong Hill Tracts are required to register with local authorities. Additionally, the U.S. Embassy has in the past received reports of incidents of kidnapping, arms and narcotics smuggling and clashes between local Bangladeshis and Rohingyan refugees in areas near Rohingyan refugee camps in the Teknaf, Kutupalong, Ukhia, and Ramu areas of the Cox’s Bazar district. The U.S. Embassy also recommends against travel to these areas. Individuals who choose to visit these districts are urged to exercise extreme caution.
For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State, Bureau of
Consular Affairs web site at http://travel.state.gov where the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts, including the Worldwide Caution, can be found. Americans traveling to or living in Bangladesh who are registered at the U.S. Embassy will receive updated
security information about Bangladesh via e-mail. All Demonstration Notices and Warden Messages are posted on the Embassy’s
web site at http://dhaka.usembassy.gov/.
Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada,
or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00
a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas.
For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see
the Department of State’s pamphlet A Safe Trip Abroad.
See our information on Victims of Crime. MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Medical facilities in Bangladesh do not approach U.S. standards, even in tourist areas. There is limited functioning ambulance service in Bangladesh. Several hospitals in Dhaka (e.g., Apollo Hospital and Square Hospital) have emergency rooms that are equipped at the level of a community hospital. Hospitals in the provinces are less well equipped and supplied. 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 invasive procedures.
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC’s internet site at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization’s (WHO) web site at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith/en.
MEDICAL INSURANCE: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. Please see our information on medical insurance overseas. TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens 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 be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.The Bangladeshi road network is in poor condition and poorly maintained. The streets of Dhaka are extremely congested; bicycle
rickshaws compete with baby taxis, cars, overloaded buses, and trucks on limited road space. Also, driving on the left-hand
side of the road may be confusing to American visitors. Inter-city roads are narrow. Driving at night is especially dangerous.
Streetlights are rare even in cities. Road accidents are common in Bangladesh. Fatal head-on collisions on inter-city roads
are common. When vehicle accidents occur, a crowd quickly gathers and violence can occur when the crowd becomes unruly.
Travelers are strongly urged not to use public transportation, including buses, rickshaws, and three-wheeled baby taxis due
to their high accident rate and crime issues. An alternative to consider is a rental car and driver.
Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information. Visit the website of Bangladesh’s National Tourism Organization at http://www.parjatan.org (e-mail address, bpcho@bangla.net).
Bangladeshi customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from Bangladesh
of items such as currency, household appliances, alcohol, cigarettes and weapons. There is no restriction as to the amount
of U.S. currency visitors may bring into Bangladesh; however, they must declare to customs authorities if they are carrying
more than USD $5,000 at the time of arrival. It is advisable to contact the Bangladeshi Embassy or Consulates for specific
information regarding customs requirements.
Please see our Customs Information.
Land disputes are extremely common in Bangladesh, and are extremely difficult to resolve through ordinary legal channels. The court cases can last for months, and sometimes years, without there ever being a final and accurate determination of which party has legitimate claim to the title.
The American Embassy currently has on file nearly twenty cases of American citizens who claim to be victimized in land-grabbing disputes. Rarely are these simple cases of a legitimate property owner and an opportunistic land-grabber. More often, it is a case of an owner who believes he has historical ownership of the property and a new owner who has just purchased the same property. One of them has been swindled, both of them have deeds, and it is next to impossible to determine whose deed is valid.
The dangers in becoming involved in a property dispute range from being threatened by bullies to being involved in a lengthy court dispute. Those involved in a court dispute run the risk of having cases filed against them, and may be arrested and jailed, sometimes for months.
American Citizens wishing to purchase property in Bangladesh should be thoroughly aware of the risks they take, and should
only purchase property from a seller whose ownership is beyond doubt. Additionally, they should recognize the risks associated
if they are not physically present to oversee their property.
American Citizens should bear in mind that the American Embassy cannot protect personal property in the absence of owners
and cannot take sides in a legal dispute.
Adult children and teenaged children of dual-citizen parents should be aware that the Embassy has recently helped several young people extricate themselves from family-arranged marriage plans. A marriage must be entered into with the full and free consent of both people. Everyone involved should feel that they have a choice. If an American citizen is being forced into a marriage against his/her will, help and advice are available (DhakaACS@state.gov, or 011-88-02-885-5500 from the United States, 02-885-5500 from inside Bangladesh, or 885-5500 from anywhere in the city of Dhaka). Young adults traveling to Bangladesh with their families to visit relatives should hold onto their passports and their return plane tickets.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Bangladeshi laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Bangladesh are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States. Please see our information on Criminal Penalties. CHILDREN'S ISSUES: For information see our Office of Children’s Issues web pages on intercountry adoption and international parental child abduction. REGISTRATION / EMBASSY LOCATION: Americans living or traveling in Bangladesh are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy through the State Department’s travel registration website and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Bangladesh. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located approximately four miles south of Zia International Airport, and five miles north of downtown in the Diplomatic Enclave, Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka, telephone (88-02) 885-5500, fax number (88-02) 882-3744. The workweek is Sunday through Thursday. The Consular Section is open for American Citizens Services Sunday through Thursday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. For emergency services and general information during business hours, please call (88-02) 882-3805. For emergency services after hours, please call (88-02) 885-5500 and ask for the duty officer. The Embassy's Internet home page is http://dhaka.usembassy.gov/.
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This replaces the Country Specific Information dated May 1, 2007 to update the sections on Entry/Exit Requirements, Safety
and Security, and Special Circumstances.
