Overview
Bangladesh is a country in Asia according to homosociety. Although the country of Bangladesh is still little explored, it offers its visitors plenty of opportunities to discover temples, animals, endless beaches, forests and tea plantations. The river cruises offered in Bangladesh are a great way to see the country’s attractions. This is also true for boat trips along the extensive beaches overlooking the Bay of Bengal. The Chittagong Hill Tracts, where there are hardly any mountains, and Sylhet are very popular with trekkers and explorers. In the capital Dhaka you can visit museums and the city also offers a large gastronomic selection. Shoppers’ expectations are not disappointed in Bangladesh: handicrafts range from bronze and ceramic work to pink beads and finely woven muslin textiles – prized since Roman times. Headlines in the press may present Bangladesh as a troubled country, yet it is a remarkably upbeat country with great diversity, both in population and landscape. As one of the youngest countries in the world, Bangladesh is packed with survivalists, open-hearted and very hospitable people and has real potential for adventure.
Getting there
Arriving by plane
Bangladesh’s national carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BG), offers non-stop flights from London to Sylhet, connecting to Dhaka; Feeder flights from Frankfurt/M. Among others with Lufthansa (LH) and Ryanair (FR), from Vienna with Austrian (OS), Laudamotion (OE) and easyJet (U2) and from Zurich with Swiss (LX) and easyJet (U2). From Frankfurt/M., Vienna and Zurich, among others, Turkish Airlines (TK) fly via Istanbul, Qatar Airways (QR) via Doha and Emirates (EK) via Dubai to Dhaka.
Flight times
Frankfurt/M. – Dhaka: 12 hrs; Vienna – Dhaka: 11 hrs 5 mins; Zurich – Dhaka: 11 hours 30 minutes (each with a stopover); London – Sylhet: 10 hrs 20 mins (non-stop).
Departure fee
A fee of around €3.20 (300 BDT) is charged on departure (usually already included in the ticket price).
Arrival by car
Bangladesh can only be reached by land via India; the borders with Myanmar are currently closed. Border crossings are at Haridaspur-Benapole (from Calcutta), at Banglabandha (from Darjeeling) and Dawki-Tamabil (from Shillong). You should inquire about the opening times of the border crossings well in advance. Monsoon rains often make roads impassable in summer. Long-distance bus: Bus companies such as Soudia Air Con, Shohagh Paribahan, Royal Coach and Green Line Paribahan offer regular bus services between Kolkata and Dhaka (journey time: 11-12 hours). Tolls: There are several toll bridges in Bangladesh, such as the Bangabandhu Bridge, northwest of Dhaka, as well as some toll roads. The toll has to be paid in cash.
Arrival by train
The Maitree Express runs several times a week between Kolkata (India) and Dhaka (journey time: 10 hours 45 minutes).
Transportation
Traveling by plane
Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BG), US-Bangla Airlines (BS), Novoair (VQ) and Regent Airways (RX) connect Dhaka, sometimes several times a day, with numerous other cities in the country, such as Chittagong and Sylhet.
Traveling by car/bus
The road network of Bangladesh has a total length of about 240,000 km; all towns are connected to it.
Right-hand traffic/left-hand traffic
Left
Condition of the roads
Only about 10% (about 23,000 km) of the entire road network is asphalted. During the rainy season, many roads are difficult or completely impassable.
Road classification
The different road categories are identified by a letter and a number; National roads with N, regional roads with R and local roads with Z.
Car rental
Rental cars are available at airports and in cities; often only with a chauffeur. The minimum age to rent a car is 18 years.
Taxi
Taxis are mainly available at airports and in front of large hotels. The fare should be agreed before departure.
Coach
Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) buses connect the major cities and provide inter-city bus services.
Roadside Assistance
The ADAC foreign emergency call offers ADAC members and holders of ADAC foreign health and accident insurance comprehensive assistance in the event of vehicle breakdowns, traffic accidents, loss of documents and money, and medical emergencies. The emergency number is available around the clock; for vehicle damage: Tel. +49 (0)89 22 22 22, for illnesses: +49 (0)89 76 76 76. The ADAC partner club in Bangladesh is the Automobile Association of Bangladesh (AAB) in Dhaka, Tel. +88 (0)2 93 41 33 42. In the event of breakdowns or accidents with the rental car, the car rental company should be contacted first.
Documentation
The international driver’s license must be carried along in addition to the national driver’s license.
Traveling in the city
Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) buses operate in Dhaka. The Central Bus Station (Fulbaria or Gulistan) is on Station Road. Other bus stations are mainly used by long-distance buses. The labels on the buses and stops are mostly in the local language. There are also a number of private “auto rickshaws” (three-wheeler taxis) which should not be used at night. Conventional taxis are also available.
Locally on the way by train
The state-owned Bangladesh Railway operates all of the country’s rail services and connects major cities with express trains. There are several trains a day on the main line from Dhaka to Chittagong. Individual rail routes are connected by river ferries.
Traveling by ship
The main river ports in the country are Barisal, Chandpur, Dhaka, Khulna, Mongla and Narayanganj. So-called “rocket” ferries and motor boats operated by the state Bangladesh Inland Waterway Transport Corporation operate on the rivers. Ferries also operate between the coastal towns in the south and in the Ganges Delta.
Note on the voyage
Ferries are often dangerously overcrowded!
