Bangladesh Travel Guide

Bangladesh — Country and Tourist Information

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Country Facts

Location: South Asia.
Language: The official language is Bengali (Bangla). English is widely spoken, especially in government and commercial circles. Tribal dialects are also spoken.
Area: 144,000 sq km (55,599 sq miles).
Time Zone: GMT + 6.
Electricity: 220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are of the British 5- and 15-amp, two- or three-pin (round) type.
Population: 153.5 million (2008 estimate).
Population Density: 1045 per sq km.
Capital City: Dhaka. Population: 11.9 million (2007).
Government: Republic. Gained independence from Pakistan in 1971.
Head of Government: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina since 2009.
Head of State: President Zillur Rahman since 2009.
Religion: 90% Muslim, 9% Hindus and 1% Buddhist and Christian minorities. Religion is the main influence on attitudes and behaviour. Since 1988, Islam has been the official state religion.

Recent History

After 16 years of presidential government, Bangladesh reverted to its original parliamentary system in August 1992. In January 2007 Fakhruddin Ahmed took over as leader of the caretaker government. Emergency law was declared along with a crackdown on corruption. Elections at the end of 2008 marked a return to two-party politics following the state of emergency imposed in 2007.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +880. Public telephone booths are located at the principal marketplaces and in post offices in the main towns.

Mobile Telephone

Coverage is limited to main towns.

Internet

Public Internet services exist in the main towns and there are also a few Internet cafes, usually with slow connections. Some hotels in Dhaka and Chittagong offer Internet access (mainly to guests).

Media

The main broadcast media in Bangladesh, Radio Bangladesh and BTV Bangladesh Television, the national television channel, are state-owned and favorable to the Government. Little coverage is given to the political opposition, except in the run-up to general elections when a caretaker Government takes control. Although BTV remains the country's sole terrestrial TV channel, private satellite-delivered TV stations have established a presence.

The constitution guarantees press freedom, but journalists are subject to regular harassment from the police and political activists. Bangladeshi newspapers are diverse, outspoken and privately owned. English-language titles appeal mainly to the educated urban elite. The authorities sometimes withdraw foreign publications from circulation over articles or images considered malicious or offensive.

Post

Airmail takes three to four days to Europe; surface mail can take several weeks. Post boxes are blue for airmail and red for surface mail. Post offices are closed on Fridays.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
16 Dec Victory Day (Bijoy Dibosh)

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
15 Feb Eid-e-Milad-un Nabi (Birth of the Prophet)
21 Feb International Mother Language Day
26 Mar Independence Day
15 Apr Bangla New Year
1 May Labor Day
17 May Buddha Purnima
17 Jul Shab-e Barat (Ascension of the Prophet)
28 Aug Shab e-Qadr (Evening of Destiny)
30 Aug - 31 Aug Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
2 Oct Durga Puja (Dashami)
6 Nov - 7 Nov Eid ul-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice)
7 Nov National Revolution Day
26 Nov Islamic New Year

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
4 Feb Eid-e-Milad-un Nabi (Birth of the Prophet)
21 Feb International Mother Language Day
25 Mar Independence Day
14 Apr Bangla New Year
1 May Labor Day
6 May Buddha Purnima
17 Jun Shab-e Barat (Ascension of the Prophet)
19 Aug Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
20 Oct Shab e-Qadr (Evening of Destiny)
24 Oct Durga Puja (Dashami)
25 Oct Eid ul-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice)
7 Nov National Revolution Day
15 Nov Islamic New Year
16 Dec Victory Day (Bijoy Dibosh)
(a) Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there are restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid ul-Azha may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region. (b) Buddhist festivals are declared according to local astronomical observations and it is not possible to forecast the date of their occurrence exactly.

Contact Information

Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (National Tourism Organization)

83-88 Mohakhali C/A, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
Tel: (2) 9899 288.
Website: www.bangladeshtourism.gov.bd

Bangladesh High Commission in the UK

28 Queen's Gate, London SW7 5JA, UK
Tel: (020) 7584 0081.
Website: www.bhclondon.org.uk
Opening hours (consular services): applications Mon-Thurs 1000-1300, Fri 1030-1245; pickups 1500-1630.