Bangladesh
General Information for Bangladesh
Geo-political:
Capital City: Dhaka. 23° 43.00′ N, 090° 24.00′ E
Nationality: (noun) Bangladeshi(s), (adjective) Bangladeshi.
Population: 162,650,853 (July 2020).
Communications:
International Direct Dial Code: 880.
Number of Internal Airports: 18 (2013).
Major Languages Spoken: Bangla 98.8% (official, also known as Bengali) and others 1.2%.
Economy:
Currency: 1 Taka (BDT) of 100 Poisha.
Exchange Rates:
(as of November 2020)
USD 1.00 = BDT 84.79
BDT 1.00 = USD 0.01
Exchange rates under licence from
XE.com
Main Industries: Jute, cotton, garments, paper, leather, fertilizer, iron, steel, cement, petroleum
products, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, tea, salt, sugar, edible oils, soap,
detergent, fabricated metal products, electricity and natural gas.
Agricultural Products: Rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, tobacco, pulses, oilseeds, spices, fruit,
beef, milk and poultry.
Imports: Cotton, machinery, equipment, chemicals, iron, steel and foodstuffs.
Exports: Garments, knitwear, agricultural products, frozen food (fish, seafood), jute, jute
goods and leather.
Commodities: Crude: Production 3,000 bbl/d. Imports 21,860 bbl/d. Reserves 28,000,000 bbl. Products: Production 26,280 bbl/d.
Exports 901 bbl/d. Imports 81,570 bbl/d. LNG: Production 29,530,000,000 cu.m.. Reserves 185,800,000,000 cu.m..
Environment:
Territorial Sea: 12 n.m.
Contiguous Zone: Contiguous Zone: 18 n.m. Continental Shelf: to the outer limits of the continental
margin. Exclusive Economic Zone: 200 n.m.
Coastline Extent: 580 km.
Climate: Tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid,
warm rainy monsoon (June to October).
Natural Resources: Natural gas, arable land, timber and coal.
Natural Hazards: Droughts, cyclones and much of the country routinely inundated during the summer monsoon
season.
Terrain: Mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast.
Average Temperatures:
| Month | High | Low |
|---|---|---|
| January | 25° C | 12° C |
| June | 30° C | 25° C |
| September | 31° C | 25° C |
CHARTS:
In Bangladesh, all hydrographic activities at sea are administrated from Naval Headquarters
of Bangladesh Navy Hydrographic Department (BNHD) at Dhaka. Details of published charts
and issued Notice to Mariners and Hydrographic Notes can be found at
Bangladesh Inland Water and Transport Authority (BIWTA) is responsible for the Hydrographic
survey of inland waterways.
www.biwta.gov.bd
MEDICAL:
Medical facilities in Bangladesh are poor. Routine tests and X-rays are unreliable.
There is a risk of Zika virus transmission in Bangladesh.
PIRACY:
Pirates tend to target ships preparing to anchor. Although the number of attacks has
fallen, the area is still listed as very high risk. Most attacks reported at Chittagong
anchorages and approaches.
Reporting:
Piracy Reporting Centre: PRC Kuala Lumpur. Tel: +60 (3) 2031 0014. Fax: +60 (3) 2078 5769.
[email protected]
www.icc-ccs.org
Chittagong Port Security: Tel: +88 (31) 251 0884. Mobile: +88 154 341 399, 171 117 4144. Fax: +88 (31) 251 0889.
[email protected]
www.cpa.gov.bd
Situation Report (SITREP): PRC Malaysia broadcasts SITREP reports to vessels at 0000
GMT via Inmarsat C (Satellite) EGC Safety Net. However, vessels in some parts of the
world which are not considered at risk from piracy will not receive these messages.
REGULATIONS:
Details of maritime legislation and regulations available from the Department of Shipping
website
www.dos.gov.bd
HOLIDAYS:
Moharram*; Eid-ul-Azha*; Muharram*; 21 February (International Mother Language Day);
21 March (Shaheed Day); 26 March (Independence Day); Eid-e-Miladunnabi*; 14 April
(Bengali New Year)*; 1 May (May Day); Buddhu Purnima*; Janmas Tami*; Jamatul Vida*;
Shab-e-Borat*; 15 August (National Mourning Day); Shab-e-Qadar*; Jamatul Bidha*; Eid-ul-Fitr*;
Durga Puja*; Eid-ul-Azha*; 7 November (Revolution Day); 16 December (Victory Day);
25 December (Christmas Day).
* Religious holidays linked to the lunar calendar and change each year.
WEATHER/TIDES:
The climate in Bangladesh is sub-tropical and governed by monsoon winds. Extreme weather
episodes such as cyclones can occur. In the monsoon season, which is normally from
June to September, there is widespread and extensive flooding. This can disrupt travel
particularly in rural areas. You should check that routes are passable before setting
out on long journeys.
Natural Disasters:
Bangladesh is located in a high-risk earthquake zone. The country lies on a major
geological fault line. In the event of an earthquake you should remain vigilant, stay
in a place of safety and follow any advice provided by the local authorities.
Bangladesh can be affected by tsunamis and the government of Bangladesh can issue
tsunami warnings. Travellers should monitor local news and comply with the advice
given. Updated weather reports can be found at the website of the Bangladesh Meteorological
Department
www.bmd.gov.bd
CONSULS:
You should be aware that, if you or your parents are Bangladeshi nationals, you will
be considered by the Bangladesh Government to be a Bangladeshi citizen, even if you
have never held a Bangladeshi passport and were born outside Bangladesh. In such cases,
this may limit the assistance your government can offer you.
Contact details of Bangladesh missions abroad, and foreign missions in Bangladesh
can be found at
mofa.gov.bd
CONNECTIONS:
The Bangladesh road network is in poor condition, and road safety is also very poor.
Drivers of larger vehicles expect to be given right of way. Speeding, dangerous and
aggressive overtaking, and sudden manoeuvres without indicating, mean that serious
accidents are common. You should take particular care on long road journeys and use
well-travelled and well-lit routes where possible. Traffic is heavy and chaotic in
urban areas and the streets of Dhaka are extremely congested with buses, trucks, cars,
CNG three-wheelers, rickshaws and pedestrians. Driving at night is especially dangerous
as many vehicles are unlit, or travel on full-beam headlights. Streetlights are rare,
even in cities. There is also a risk of banditry if you travel between towns after
dark, by train, bus or ferry.
Bangladesh has an extensive, but old, rail network. Rail travel in Bangladesh is generally
slow. There are occasional derailments and other incidents, which can result in injuries
and deaths. On some trains, first class compartments may be lockable. You should ensure
that the compartment door is locked if travelling overnight.
River and sea ferries are often dangerously overcrowded, particularly in the days
before and after religious festivals and other holidays. There have been a number
of serious accidents in Bangladesh, and capsizing is common. You should exercise caution
if such transport is required.
BANKS:
Travellers' cheques can be cashed at banks and at the airports. Credit cards should
be used with due caution as there is the potential for fraud. Standard Chartered Bank
has ATMs in Dhaka, Chittagong, Bogra, Sylhet, Narayanganj and Khulna. HSBC has ATMs
in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet. Some of the five-star hotels in Dhaka have ATM facilities.
UK cash point cards are accepted. There are commercial money transfer services available
in Dhaka and in towns/cities across Bangladesh.
SHORE LEAVE:
Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Bangladesh. The threat extends
across the country. The last terrorist attack, targeting security forces, occurred
in March 2017. There is a risk that future attacks could also target public gatherings.
In August 2017, the Bangladeshi security forces disrupted a reported plot to target
Mourning Day commemorations in Dhaka.There is also a risk that foreign nationals could
be directly targeted in future attacks. Crowded areas and places where foreign nationals
are known to gather may be at higher risk of attack. You should minimise your exposure
to these areas, consider your movements carefully and follow any specific advice of
the local security authorities.
Armed robbery, pickpocketing, and purse snatching are common to Bangladesh; therefore
it is advised that you do not carry a large amount of money with you or wear jewellery
in the street. Thieves often work in pairs on motorcycles or 3-wheeled motorised rickshaws
known as CNGs. Passengers using cycle rickshaws and CNGs, or travelling alone in taxis,
are particularly vulnerable, especially at night. If travelling alone, you should
try to avoid using public transport. The use of cycle rickshaws, as a safe mode of
transport, is not recommended.
REPATRIATION:
Passengers sometimes face harassment at Bangladesh's international airports. There
are regular reports of theft and harassment at Dhaka and Sylhet airports. Beware of
touts offering to carry your bags – many are thieves. Arrange pick-up transport in
advance. Taxis, including those serving the airport, often overcharge and drivers
have been known to rob passengers. Passport theft at Dhaka and Sylhet airports is
a particular concern. Ensure your documents and any valuables are accounted for and
secure at all times. The EU has published a list of air carriers that are subject
to an operating ban or restrictions within the community. You should check the European
Commission website to see whether this will affect your travel.
AUTHORITY:
Department of Shipping, BIWTA Bhaban, 8th Floor, 141-143 Motijheel C/A, Dhaka, 1000,
Bangladesh.
T: +880 (2) 951 3305.
F: +880 (2) 958 7301. [email protected] www.dos.gov.bd
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authorty, BIWTA Bhaban, 141-143 Motijheel C/A, Dhaka,
1000, Bangladesh.
T: +880 (2) 956 4634.
F: +880 (2) 955 1072. [email protected] www.biwta.gov.bd
