Bangladesh Travel Guide

Passports

Country	Passport Required	Visa Required	Return Ticket Required
British	Yes	Yes	Yes
Australian	Yes	Yes	Yes
Canadian	Yes	Yes	Yes
USA	Yes	Yes	Yes
Other EU	Yes	Yes	Yes

Passport valid for three months after departure required by all nationals referred to in chart above.

Visas

Required by all nationals referred to in the chart above except the following:
(a) transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft, provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport.

Visa Note

Some tourist and business travelers who do not have a mission for Bangladesh in their country of origin can obtain a visa valid for seven to 15 days on arrival. Business travelers require a letter of invitation from company based in Bangladesh, containing their Tax Identification Number and attestation from Chamber of Commerce or Bangladeshi government ministries with corresponding passport name and passport number and holding return air tickets and sufficient funds for stay and all documents for next destination. Citizens of countries where there is a Bangladesh Mission must obtain a visa before going to Bangladesh.

Types of Visa and Cost

Tourist and Business. Prices vary according to nationality; contact the embassy for more details (see Important Addresses). For UK passport holders: £40 (single-entry); £52 (double-entry); £75 (triple-entry); £104 (multiple-entry).

Validity

Single-entry: Three months; Double-entry and Triple-entry: Six months. Multiple-entry: Twelve months. Stays are for a maximum of two months each.

Applications to:

Consular section at embassy or high commission.

Working Days Required

Express processing (three-four days) is possible. At least seven days should be allowed for some postal applications. Application times are longer (two to three weeks) for non-British or Irish nationals. Visa processing time for journalists is normally three weeks. Journalists should contact the press wing of the Bangladeshi High Commission.

Travel Warnings

An Awami League MP was the target of a bombing attack on 21 October 2009, in which 13 people were injured. You are advised to stay away from large gatherings, and avoid political offices and rallies. The areas near Dhaka University Campus and other universities can be particularly dangerous during civil unrest and demonstrations; the period after Friday prayers can be a time of increased tensions.

Visitors are advised against all travel to the Chittagong Hill Tracts (this does not include Chittagong City) because of the risk of being caught up in clashes between rival tribal groups, settlers and the military. Security in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, which include the areas of Khagrachari, Rangamati and Bandarban has deteriorated in recent days, and violent clashes between rival ethnic groups have led to fatalities.

Avoid border areas in the Bramanbaria district due to occasional skirmishes between the Indian and Bangladeshi border guards, resulting in heavy fire.

On 11 January 2007, the president declared a state of emergency. The situation in has since calmed. However events in Bangladesh can move quickly. Travelers should keep themselves informed of developments, including by regularly checking travel advice and monitoring the news.

A curfew that affected the six main cities in Bangladesh (also known as the Divisional Towns, Dhaka, Sylhet, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi and Barisal) from 22 August has now been lifted. The curfew had been declared in response to recent clashes in Dhaka between students of Dhaka University and College and the security authorities. The violence has now abated.

Those already in Bangladesh should ensure they are comfortable with and regularly review their own and their family's security and travel arrangements. Visitors should carry photocopies of their Bangladeshi visa and data page from their passport at all times, plus copies of other important travel documents, for identification purposes.

Local laws reflect the fact that Bangladesh is a predominantly Islamic country. You should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times and be aware of your actions to ensure that they do not offend other cultures or religious beliefs, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas. Same-sex relations are illegal.

There is a high threat from terrorism in Bangladesh. Terrorists have intensified the scale and frequency of their attacks against domestic targets in Bangladesh. These have resulted in a large number of fatalities and serious injuries. Further attacks are likely. Western interests or westerners could become the targets for attacks or kidnapping. Those planning to travel to Bangladesh should be careful about, and confident of, personal security arrangements throughout the visit.

Six members of the terrorist group Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) who were sentenced to death have now been executed. Western interests or Western nationals could become the targets for retaliatory attacks or kidnapping.

Bangladesh is located in a high-risk earthquake zone.

As a precaution against a recent outbreak of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in Bangladesh, you should avoid live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds; and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked.

This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organizations for the latest travel advice:

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Tel: 0845 850 2829.
Website: www.fco.gov.uk

US Department of State
Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel

Health Care

Health insurance is essential. Visitors can also be treated at military hospitals.

Vaccinations

Vaccination	Special Precaution
Diphtheria	Yes
Hepatitis A	Yes
Malaria	Yes
Rabies	Sometimes
Tetanus	Yes
Typhoid	Yes
Yellow Fever	No*

Special Notes

* A yellow fever certificate is required of all persons (including infants) arriving by air or sea within six days of departure from an infected area, or a country with infection in any part, or a country where the WHO judges yellow fever to be endemic or present; or has been in such an area in transit; or has come by an aircraft which has come from such an area and has not been properly disinfected. Those arriving without a required certificate will be detained in quarantine for six days.