Southern Asia · UN member
Bangladesh: Travel Guide & Requirements
People's Republic of Bangladesh · বাংলাদেশ গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী
Bangladesh is a country in Southern Asia with its capital in Dhaka. It has a population of 175.7 million (#8 in the world) and covers 148,460 km². The official language is Bengali. The currency is the Bangladeshi taka (BDT, ৳).
Where is Bangladesh? Map of Bangladesh
Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India.
- Region
- Southern Asia
- Coordinates
- 24° N, 90° E
- Neighbours
- 2 — see list
- Coastline
- 580 km
- Bangladesh
- Neighbours
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of Bangladesh showing Dhaka (capital) and the largest cities: Chattogram, Khulna, Rangpur, Rajshahi, Comilla, Mohāmmadpur, Shibganj and Nagar Naluākot.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Bangladesh
- Passport
Bangladesh's Visa Policy 2026 says all visitors must hold a passport valid for 6 months.
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 9 need no visa, 128 get a visa on arrival, 61 need a visa from an embassy. Check yours or see Bangladesh entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
Bangladesh's Visa Policy 2026 lists a return ticket among the documents for a first tourist (T) visa, and among the documents the immigration authority examines before granting a visa on arrival.
- Proof of funds
Bangladesh's Visa Policy 2026 says the immigration authority will grant a visa on arrival after examining the invitation and relevant documents, such as a hotel reservation, return ticket and proof of finance in card or…
- Travel insurance
No official requirement. The UK Foreign Office advises checking before you travel that you have appropriate travel insurance and access to money for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation.
- Vaccinations
The WHO country list says Bangladesh requires proof of yellow fever vaccination from travellers aged 1 year or over arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission, and from travellers who transited throu…
- Arrival card
Bangladesh’s immigration police (Special Branch) run an online E-Arrival Card and E-Departure Card.
- Customs allowance
Bangladesh Bank has raised the amount of foreign currency incoming passengers may bring without declaring it to Customs to USD 10,000 or its equivalent (FE Circular No. 06 of 2020).
- Travel advice
Some caution needed — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to Bangladesh
- Safety: Bangladesh is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates Bangladesh Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country.
- Best time to go: December to January — when daytime highs in Dhaka are around 24°C.
- Money: the Bangladeshi taka (BDT) — 1 US dollar is about 123.3973 BDT.
- Plugs: type A, C, D and G, 220 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 999, Ambulance 999, Fire 999.
- Language: Bengali is official.
- Driving: on the left — speed limits are 112 km/h in built-up areas and 112 km/h outside built-up areas.
- Time zone: UTC+6 in Dhaka.
- Capital: Dhaka. About 175.7 million people live in Bangladesh.
- Outdoors: 19 national parks.
Key facts
Bangladesh at a glance
Languages spoken: Bangla 98.8% (official, also known as Bengali), other 1.2% (2011 est.)
Geography & history
About Bangladesh
The huge delta region at the confluence of the Ganges and Brahmaputra River systems -- now referred to as Bangladesh -- was a loosely incorporated outpost of various empires for much of the first millennium A.D. Muslim conversions and settlement in the region began in the 10th century, primarily from Arab and Persian traders and preachers. Europeans established trading posts in the area in the 16th century. Eventually the area known as Bengal, which is primarily Hindu in the western section and mostly Muslim in the eastern half, became part of British India. After the partition of India in 1947, the Muslim-majority area became East Pakistan. Calls for greater autonomy and animosity between …
Read the full history
The huge delta region at the confluence of the Ganges and Brahmaputra River systems -- now referred to as Bangladesh -- was a loosely incorporated outpost of various empires for much of the first millennium A.D. Muslim conversions and settlement in the region began in the 10th century, primarily from Arab and Persian traders and preachers. Europeans established trading posts in the area in the 16th century. Eventually the area known as Bengal, which is primarily Hindu in the western section and mostly Muslim in the eastern half, became part of British India. After the partition of India in 1947, the Muslim-majority area became East Pakistan. Calls for greater autonomy and animosity between the eastern and western areas of Pakistan led to a Bengali independence movement. That movement, led by the Awami League (AL) and supported by India, won the independence war for Bangladesh in 1971. The military overthrew the post-independence AL government in 1975, the first of a series of military coups that resulted in a military-backed government and the subsequent creation of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) that took power in 1979. That government also ended in a coup in 1981, followed by military-backed rule until democratic elections were held in 1991. The BNP and AL alternated in power from 1991 to 2008, with the exception of a military-backed, emergency caretaker regime in 2007. The country returned to fully democratic rule in 2008 with the election of the AL and Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA. With the help of international development assistance, Bangladesh is on track to graduate from the UN’s Least Developed Countries (LDC) list in 2026. The economy has grown at an annual average of about 6.25% for the last two decades. Poverty declined from 11.8 percent in 2010 to 5.0 percent in 2022, based on the international poverty line of $2.15 a day (using 2017 Purchasing Power Parity exchange rate). The country made a rapid recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, but still faces economic challenges.
Location
Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
Climate
tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
Terrain
mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast
Highest point
Mowdok Taung 1,060 m
Natural resources
natural gas, arable land, timber, coal
Natural hazards
droughts; cyclones; much of the country routinely inundated during the summer monsoon season
National symbols
Bengal tiger, water lily
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Bangladesh
The default speed limits in Bangladesh are 112 km/h in built-up areas and 112 km/h outside built-up areas. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 112112 km/hBuilt-up areasTowns and citiesWHO data (2017)
- 112112 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roadsWHO data (2017)
- International Driving PermitRecognised: 1949 GenevaCarry the IDP together with your national licence
- Driving sideDrive on the leftOvertake on the right
- Seat beltsNo national seat-belt law
- Child seatsNo national child-restraint law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)18.6 per 100,000 peopleHigher than most countries (median 12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0) and WHO. Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Bangladesh safe to visit?
Bangladesh is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates Bangladesh Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: Removal of information about Hindu festival of Durga Puja (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
Updated 22 Oct 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Bangladesh
The best time to visit Bangladesh is December to January, when daytime highs in Dhaka are around 24°C. February and November are also a good time to go. April is the warmest month (35°C by day), January the coldest (11°C at night), and July the wettest with about 437 mm of rain.
- Jan24°C11°C
- Feb29°C15°C
- Mar34°C20°C
- Apr35°C24°C
- May34°C26°C
- Jun31°C26°C
- Jul31°C26°C
- Aug31°C26°C
- Sep30°C25°C
- Oct30°C23°C
- Nov27°C18°C
- Dec24°C13°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Bangladesh
Plugs & sockets
- Type Atwo flat parallel pins
- Type C (Europlug)two round pins
- Type Dthree large round pins in a triangle
- Type Gthree rectangular pins in a triangle
220 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Emergency numbers
Save the local numbers before you travel — 112 or 911 may not connect here. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
National parks
19 national parks in Bangladesh
- 534 km² protected
- oldest from 1962
Largest: Nijhum Dwip National Park · Madhupur National Park · Inani National Park
Currency · 26 October 2026
Bangladeshi taka exchange rates today
Bangladesh uses the Bangladeshi taka (BDT, ৳). One US dollar buys 123.3973 BDT; over the last 30 days the BDT has lost 0.3% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in BDT
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Bangladesh ranks
How Bangladesh compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Bangladesh
53 airports and airfields — 3 large, 6 medium and 8 small, plus 36 heliports. 8 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
Bangladesh borders 2 countries along 4,413 km of land borders. Coastline: 580 km.
Military
Bangladeshi armed forces
Bangladesh ranks #40 of 145 in the Global Firepower military strength ranking, with a defence budget of $3.8 billion (2025).
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Dhaka (23.2 million), Chittagong (5.4 million), Khulna (955,000), Rajshahi (962,000), Sylhet (964,000)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
cotton, textiles and clothing, jute, tea, paper, cement, fertilizer, sugar, light engineering
Export partners
USA 16%, Germany 15%, UK 8%, Spain 7%, Poland 6% (2023)
Top exports
garments, footwear, fabric, textiles, trunks and cases (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Bangladesh
Next public holiday
Victory Day — Wednesday, 16 December 2026. Then Christmas Day (25 Dec).
Bangladeshi passport
Ranked #177: 17 countries visa-free, 17 with visa on arrival, 2 with an eTA and 47 with an eVisa.
Bangladeshi passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Bangladesh's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Bangladesh
Dial +880 before the local number. Internet domain .bd.
Climate footprint
108.3 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 0.62 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Bangladesh: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Bangladesh
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Frequently asked questions about Bangladesh
What do I need to travel to Bangladesh?
How long must my passport be valid for Bangladesh?
Where is Bangladesh?
What is Bangladesh known for?
What is the capital of Bangladesh?
What language is spoken in Bangladesh?
What currency does Bangladesh use?
What is the calling code of Bangladesh?
Which countries border Bangladesh?
How strong is the Bangladeshi passport?
What is the speed limit in Bangladesh?
Is Bangladesh safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Bangladesh?
What plug type does Bangladesh use?
How many airports does Bangladesh have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.