Bangladesh Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in bangladesh, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Business Customs

Personal contact plays a vital role in building business relationships in Bangladesh. Bangladeshi business executives are typically very courteous and strive to make their foreign guests feel comfortable. Some Bangladeshis do not shake hands with visitors of the opposite sex. Hosting meals for Bangladeshi agents or business contacts is a common and effective way to facilitate business negotiations, and visitors may also be invited to share meals as guests of their hosts.

Attire for social functions is usually “informal,” which means business dress rather than formal wear. Women tend to dress conservatively but are not expected to cover their heads. While meetings typically begin on time, conferences and social gatherings often start later than scheduled.

The standard workweek in Bangladesh runs from Sunday through Thursday. 

Travel Advisory

Please consult the Department of State’s Consular Information Sheet for Bangladesh for the most up to date travel information.

Travelers are also advised to sign up for the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). STEP is a free service allowing U.S. citizens and nationals traveling abroad to enroll their trips with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. With STEP, travelers:

  • Receive important information from the Embassy about safety conditions in your destination country, helping you make informed decisions about your travel plans.
  • Plan ahead using information from the local U.S. embassy
  • Help the U.S. Embassy contact you in an emergency, whether natural disaster, civil unrest, or family emergency.

Visa Requirements

Passports and Visas

Your passport must be valid for six months beyond your planned stay in Bangladesh, have at least one blank visa page, and contain a Bangladeshi visa and an onward or return ticket.

U.S. citizens are eligible for visas on arrival unless the Bangladesh government temporarily bans on-arrival visas for foreign nationals; however, we strongly recommend obtaining a visa before traveling.  Visit the Embassy of Bangladesh website for the most current visa information.

Dual Citizens

U.S.-Bangladeshi dual nationals and their immediate family members are eligible for a “No Visa Required for Travel to Bangladesh” seal, which can be issued in their U.S. passports by the nearest Bangladeshi Embassy or Consulate. Accepting the “No Visa Required” seal means a U.S. dual national acknowledges Bangladeshi nationality and accepts its associated responsibilities in accordance with Bangladesh laws.

Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on the U.S. Embassy website.

Up to date information regarding entry and exit requirements is available at theDepartment of State’s website.

Currency

The local currency is the Bangladeshi taka. Currency exchange centers/money changers can be found in commercial centers throughout the country. The U.S. dollar is the most commonly exchanged currency. Other currencies, such as Euros and British pounds, may also be exchanged in banks and hotels.

Travelers’ checks can be cashed in commercial banks. It may be difficult, however, to have them exchanged at banks outside of major cities.

Major credit cards and debit cards are widely accepted.

Banks are open from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Sunday to Thursday; ATMs are open 24 hours.

Telecommunications/Electric

Mobile phone networks have rapidly expanded to cover nearly 100 percent of Bangladesh.  Access to 4G mobile networks is widely available in most cities. The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications requires that SIM cards be registered together with their user’s biometric data.

The normal voltage in Bangladesh is 220 volts, and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.  Four types of power supply plugs used in Bangladesh: types G, C, D and K; the primary power supply plugs are type G.

Transportation

Road Conditions and Safety

Traffic in Bangladesh moves on the left, the opposite of U.S. traffic, and large vehicles generally take the right-of-way.

Roads are extremely crowded, poorly maintained, often lack shoulders, have numerous potholes, sharp drop-offs, and barriers that are not sign-posted.

Drivers are often unlicensed, aggressive, and poorly trained.  Many vehicles, particularly large trucks and buses, are badly maintained.

Speed limits and other traffic laws are not commonly posted and are rarely observed by motorists.  Vehicles often run red lights and merge directly into traffic without stopping. The practice of using one’s car horn or flashing high-beam headlights to announce one’s presence is the norm in all areas of Bangladesh at all times of day or night.

Road accidents, including fatal head-on collisions, are common in Bangladesh.  When traveling by road you should:

  • Consider employing an experienced local driver or guide;
  • Exercise extreme caution when crossing streets, even in areas frequented by pedestrians;
  • Use seatbelts, if available, and wear helmets on motorcycles and bicycles;
  • Exercise particular vigilance along intercity highways, as banditry and carjacking have been known to occur; and,
  • Monitor local news for any reports of road disturbances as protestors and demonstrators often use road blockage as a means of publicizing their grievances.

 

If a serious accident occurs, or if a driver hits a pedestrian or a cow, crowds quickly gather and the behavior of the crowd is often unpredictable. The vehicle and its occupants may be at risk of being attacked in such circumstances depending on who the crowd believes is at fault and what damage occurred. Such attacks may pose significant risk of injury or death to the vehicle’s occupants or incineration of the vehicle. It is unsafe to remain at the scene of an accident of this nature. Seek shelter at the nearest police station.

Please refer to the Department of State’s Road Safety page for more information. More information is also available at Bangladesh’s National Tourism Organization (Parjatan Corporation) website.

The U.S. Embassy prohibits U.S. Government officials and their family members from using buses, trains, motorcycles, and compressed natural gas autorickshaws due to high accident rates and crime issues. 

The Bangladesh passenger rail system is antiquated and overburdened. 

Uber operates in some parts of Bangladesh, but cash payment is required in local currency; fares are not paid via the app.

Aviation Safety Oversight

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of Bangladesh’s Civil Aviation Authority as not in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization aviation safety standards for oversight of Bangladesh’s air carrier operations. Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page.

Language

Bangla (Bengali) is the official language of Bangladesh, but English is also widely spoken and used in official and business circles.  U.S. businesspeople may greet their Bangladeshi counterparts with normal English salutations. The usual greeting among Bangladeshis is the Arabic phrase “As-salaam-u-alaikum” (meaning “peace be with you”). The cordial response is “Walaikum As Salaam” (“peace to you as well”).  A polite parting phrase is “Khuda Hafez” (“God preserve”).

Health

Medical care is limited and well below U.S. standards. U.S. citizens often travel outside of Bangladesh for medical treatment, including for many routine procedures.

There have been reports of counterfeit medications within the country, but medication from major pharmacies and hospitals is generally reliable.

Water supplies in Bangladesh are not potable, though bottled drinking water is generally safe for consumption.

Fecal-oral contamination is common and improperly prepared meat and improperly cleaned vegetables can lead to food-borne illnesses. Wash, soak, peel, and thoroughly cook food to minimize chemical, insecticide, bacterial, and parasitic contamination. Although the U.S. Embassy cannot provide medical advice or services to the public, a list of hospitals and doctors in Dhaka can be found on the Embassy website.

Additional information regarding healthcare is available at the State Department’s website.

Local Time, Business Hours, and Holidays

Bangladesh Standard Time is six hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+6). Bangladesh observes a Sunday to Thursday workweek. Business hours are generally 9:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The U.S. Embassy, government offices, and most businesses observe a two-day weekend (Friday and Saturday).  Muslim religious holidays may vary with the appearance of the moon. Please see this list of holidays observed by the U.S. Embassy for more information.

Temporary Entry of Materials and Personal Belongings

Agents and representatives of foreign manufacturers are allowed to import machinery and equipment from their principals for purposes of demonstration or exhibition, subject to the following conditions:

  • The goods brought into Bangladesh will be re-exported within a period of one year.
  • The importer shall execute a bond and furnish a bank guarantee or understanding or a legal instrument to the satisfaction of Bangladeshi Customs at the time of clearance indicating that the goods will be re-exported in a timely manner.
  • If the goods include any banned or restricted items, prior permission is required from the CCIE.  Equipment or machinery imported on a temporary basis is exempt from duty if the importer obtains an import/export permit.

 

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