Bangladesh Overview Country Overview The People's Republic of Bangladesh is bound to the north, northwest and east by India and to the southeast by Myanmar (Burma). The landscape is mainly flat with many bamboo, mango and palm-covered plains created by the effects of the great river systems of the Ganges and the Brahmaputra. Dhaka, the historic city and capital of Bangladesh, lies on the Buriganga River in the northern central area, its oldest areas dominated both by the commercial bustle of the waterfront and several old buildings. These include the uncompleted 17th-century Lalbagh Fort, the spectacular Ahsan Manzil palace museum and the Chotta Katra. Khulna, in the southwest, is principally marshland and jungle. Its greatest attraction is the Sundarbans National Park, a supreme example of lush coastal vegetation and exotic wildlife. The most famous inhabitants of this region are the Royal Bengal tigers. Local specialities are usually served with rice and based on chicken and lamb recipes. Western-style nightclubs do not exist but displays of local dance and music can be seen particularly during religious festivals. General Information Area: 147,570 sq km (56,977 sq miles). Population: 131,269,860 (official estimate 2001). Population Density: 889.5 per sq km. Capital: Dhaka. Population: 3,612,850 (1991). GEOGRAPHY: The People’s Republic of Bangladesh, formerly East Pakistan, is bounded to the west and northwest by West Bengal (India), to the north by Assam and Meghalaya (India), to the east by Assam and Tripura (India) and by Myanmar (Burma) to the southeast. The landscape is mainly flat with many bamboo, mango and palm-covered plains. A large part of Bangladesh is made up of alluvial plain, caused by the effects of the two great river systems of the Ganges (Padma) and the Brahmaputra (Jamuna) and their innumerable tributaries. In the northeast and east of the country the landscape rises to form forested hills. To the southeast, along the Burmese and Indian borders, the land is hilly and wooded. About one-seventh of the country’s area is under water and flooding occurs regularly. Government: Republic. Gained independence from Pakistan in 1971. Head of State: President Iajuddin Ahmed since 2002. Head of Government: Prime Minister Khaleda Zia since 2001. Language: The official language is Bengali (Bangla). English is widely spoken especially in government and commercial circles. Religion: Eighty-eight per cent Muslim, ten per cent Hindus and two per cent Buddhist and Christian minorities. Religion is the main influence on attitudes and behaviour. Since 1988, Islam has been the official state religion. Time: GMT + 6. Electricity: 220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are of the British five- and 15-amp, two- or three-pin (round) type. Telephone Limited IDD available. Country code: 880. Outgoing international code: 00. Public telephone booths are located at the principal marketplaces and in post offices in the main towns. Mobile telephone GSM 900. Main network operators include Grameen Phone (website: www.grameenphone.com), Aktel (website: www.aktel.com) and Mobile 2000. Coverage is limited to main towns. Fax There are facilities at major hotels in Dhaka and services are now widely available in all large towns. Internet Public Internet services exist in the main towns and there are also a few Internet cafes. Hotels in Dhaka and Chittagong offer Internet access (mainly to guests). Main ISPs include BanglaNet (website: www.bangla.net) and Proshikanet (website: www.proshikanet.com). Telegram Telegrams may be sent from main post offices and there are three charge rates. Post Airmail takes three to four days to Europe; surface mail can take several months. Post boxes are blue for airmail and red for surface mail. Press There are eight daily English-language papers, the most popular being the Bangladesh Observer, followed by the Daily Star, the Independent, the Financial Express and the New Nation. The main English-language weeklies are Holiday, the Dhaka Courier and the Bangladesh Gazette. The main Bengali dailies are Janakantha, Ittefaq, Prothan Alo and Sangbad. Almost all these newspapers are published in Dhaka and circulated throughout the country. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 15.31 11.96 6.195 1.413 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 17.74 11.71 9.645 6.110 Passport/Visa   Passport Required? Visa Required? Return Ticket Required? British Yes Yes Yes Australian Yes Yes Yes Canadian Yes Yes Yes USA Yes Yes Yes OtherEU Yes Yes Yes Japanese Yes Yes Yes Restricted entry: The government of Bangladesh refuses admission and transit to nationals of Israel. PASSPORTS: Passport valid for three months after departure required by all. VISAS: Required by all except the following: (a) nationals of Bangladesh or former Bangladesh nationals holding British passports, provided they have the statement ‘no visa required for travel to Bangladesh’ stamped in their passport by the Bangladesh High Commission; (b) nationals of China (PR), Hong Kong (SAR) and Macau (SAR) for stays of up to 15 days; (c) transit passengers continuing their journey the same for first connecting aircraft provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport. Note: Tourist and business travellers who do not have a mission for Bangladesh in their country of origin can obtain visas on arrival at Zia, Dhaka and Chittagong international airports, provided holding return air tickets. Types of visa and cost: Entry, Visit, Tourist and Business: £40 (single-entry); £52 (double-entry); £75 (multiple-entry for six months); £104 (multiple-entry for one year). Entry visas may be issued for short conference or journalistic trips (although not for business trips). Note: Some nationals may be able to obtain visas free of charge. Enquire at Embassy or High Commission for details. Validity: Single-entry: three to six months from date of issue; Double-entry: six months from date of issue. Multiple-entry: six to 12 months from date of issue. Stays are for a maximum of 90 days each. Application to: Consular Section at Embassy or High Commission; see Contact Addresses section. Application requirements: (a) Valid passport. (b) Two completed application forms. (c) Two passport-size photos. (d) Fee. (e) Letter from employer or other relevant letters for business and conference trips. Working days required: 24 hours for a single-entry visa; 48 hours for other types of visa. At least five days for postal applications. Money Currency: Bangladeshi Taka (Tk) = 100 paisa. Notes are in denominations of Tk500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are in denominations of Tk5 and 1 and 50, 25, 10 and 5 paisa. Currency exchange: All foreign currency exchanged must be entered on a currency declaration form. Hotel bills must be paid in a major convertible currency or with travellers cheques. Many shops in the cities will offer better rates of exchange than the banks. Credit & debit cards: Limited acceptance of MasterCard, Diners Club and American Express. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. Travellers cheques: Can be exchanged on arrival at Dhaka Airport. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. Currency restrictions: The import and export of local currency is limited to Tk100. Reconversion of local currency is permitted up to Tk500 or 25 per cent of the amount exchanged on arrival. The import of foreign currency is unlimited. The export of foreign currency is limited to US$150 or the amount declared on arrival. Exchange rate indicators The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Taka against Sterling and the US Dollar: Date May ’02 Aug ’02 Nov ’02 Feb ’03 £1.00= 83.43 87.67 91.48 92.67 $1.00= 57.25 57.66 57.85 58.20 Banking hours: Sun-Wed 0900-1500; Thurs 0900-1300. Duty Free The following goods may be imported into Bangladesh without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 225g of tobacco; 2 bottles of alcoholic beverages or 1 bottle if not travelling for touristic purposes (non-Muslims only); 250ml of perfume; gifts up to the value of Tk500. Note: Duty-free items may be bought at the duty-free shop at Dhaka Airport on arrival. Prohibited items: Firearms and some animals. Public Holidays Jan 1 2003 New Year’s Day. Feb 12 Eid ul-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice). Feb 21 Shaheed Day. Mar 5 Islamic New Year. Mar 26 Independence Day. Apr 14 Bangla New Year. May 1 Labour Day. May 14 Eid-e-Milad-un Nabi (Birth of the Prophet). May 16 Buddha Purnima. Jul 7 Bank Holiday. Aug 15 National Mourning Day (Death of the Father of the Nation). Aug 20 Janamashtami. Oct 5 Durga Puja (Dashami). Oct 12 Shab e-Barat (Ascension of the Prophet). Nov 7 National Revolution Day. Nov 22 Shab e-Qadr (Evening of Destiny). Nov 26-28 Eid ul-Fitr (End of Ramadan). Dec 16 Victory Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Dec 26 Boxing Day. Dec 31 New Year’s Eve. Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Feb 2 Eid ul-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice). Feb 21 Shaheed Day. Feb 22 Islamic New Year. Mar 26 Independence Day. Apr 14 Bangla New Year. May 1 Labour Day. May 2 Eid-e-Milad-un Nabi (Birth of the Prophet). May 4 Buddha Purnima. Jul 5 Bank Holiday. Aug 15 National Mourning Day (Death of the Father of the Nation). Sep 6 Janamashtami. Sep 30 Shab-e Barat (Ascension of the Prophet). Oct 22 Durga Puja (Dashami). Nov 7 National Revolution Day. Nov 10 Shab e-Qadr (Evening of Destiny). Nov 14-16 Eid ul-Fitr (End of Ramadan). Dec 16 Victory Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Dec 26 Boxing Day. 31 Dec New Year’s Eve. Note: (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 ul-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 ul-Fitr itself. Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Azha may last anything from two to ten 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. Health   Special Precautions Certificate Required Yellow Fever No 1 Cholera 2 No Typhoid and Polio 3 N/A Malaria 4 N/A 1: 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. For further information, see the Health appendix. 2: Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is no longer a condition of entry to Bangladesh. However, cholera is a serious risk in this country and precautions are essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness. See the Health appendix. 3: Vaccination against typhoid is advised. 4: Malaria risk exists throughout the year in the whole country with the exception of Dhaka City. The malignant falciparum form is reported to be highly resistant to chloroquine and resistant to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine. Seek advice on recommended prophylaxis at least one month before travelling. Food & drink: All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid all dairy products. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled. Other risks: Dengue fever, visceral leishmaniasis and hepatitis A, B and E are present. Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If bitten abroad seek medical advice without delay. For more information consult the Health appendix. Health care: There is no reciprocal health agreement with the UK and health insurance is essential. Visitors can also be treated at military hospitals. Travel - International AIR: Bangladesh’s national airline is Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BG). International carriers serving Bangladesh include: Aeroflot, British Airways, Emirates, Gulf Air, Indian Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines, Royal Nepal Airlines, Saudi Airways, Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways. Approximate flight times: From Dhaka to London (direct) is 10 hours 20 minutes, to Los Angeles is 22 hours and to New York is 23 hours. International airports: Dhaka International (DAC) (Zia International). The airport is 20km (11 miles) north of the city (travel time – 45 minutes). Biman Bangladesh coaches run every hour from 0800-2200. To return, pick up the coach from the Tejgaon old airport building, the Golden Gate or Zakaria hotels. Parjatan Coaches are also available. Bus and taxi services are available to the city. Airport facilities include restaurants, post office, banks, duty-free shops and car hire. Other international airports include Syhlet (ZYL) (Osmani International Airport) and Chittagong (CGP) (MA Hannan International Airport). Departure tax: Tk300. Children under two years of age and passengers in immediate transit are exempt. SEA: Ferries from Myanmar and India run to the southern coastal ports. For details contact the Embassy or High Commission of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. The main seaport is Chittagong. RAIL: Rail connections (there are no through trains) link Bangladesh with India (West Bengal and Assam). Cycle-rickshaw, bus or porter services provide the cross-border connections. ROAD: Overland crossings include the Benapol-Haridispur border (for Calcutta), the Chilihari-Haldibari border (for Darjeeling) and the Tamabil-Dawki border (for Shillong). The crossing at Benapol is the easiest and most used. It is advisable to check when the frontier posts will be open. Conditions are likely to be difficult during the monsoon season. All other frontier posts between the two countries are currently closed. Overland travel is not currently possible between Bangladesh and Myanmar. Coach: A direct daily service has recently been introduced between Dhaka and Calcutta via Benapol. For further details, contact Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (tel: (2) 955 5553; fax: (2) 955 5786). Travel - Internal AIR: Internal services are operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BG), Aero Bengal Airlines, Air Parabat and GMG Airlines. Regular flights are run between Dhaka and several other main towns. These are cheap, and most routes are served at least two or three times a week. Airline buses connect with terminals. Domestic airports: These include Barisal, Cox’s Bazar, Ishwdi, Jessore, Rajshahi and Saidpur. Departure tax: Tk25. SEA/RIVER: The country has about 8433km (5240 miles) of navigable waterways and water transport, if a little slow, is the least expensive method of getting around Bangladesh. Ferries operate between southern coastal ports and the Ganges River delta, where there are five major river ports: Dhaka, Narayanganj, Chandpur, Barisal and Khulna. Passages should be booked well in advance; for details contact local port authorities. River services are operated by the Bangladesh Inland Waterway Transport Corporation (BIWTC), who run ‘Rocket’ ferries and launches on a number of routes. A ferry operates from Dhaka to Khulna four times a week (travel time – 28 hours). RAIL: A rail system of approximately 2800km (1740 miles) connects major towns, with broad gauge in the west of the country and narrow gauge in the east. A slow but efficient network, operated by Bangladesh Railway, is limited by the geography of the country, but river ferries (see above) provide through links. Services are being upgraded. The main line is Dhaka–Chittagong, with several daily trains, some of which have air-conditioned cars. An inter-city express service is available between main towns. For details contact the Embassy or High Commission for the People’s Republic of Bangladesh (see Contact Addresses section) or Bangladesh Railway (tel: (2) 409 686 or 409 341-5). ROAD: There are approximately 6240km (3877 miles) of roads, of which 3840km (2386 miles) are paved. It is possible to reach virtually everywhere by road, but given the geography of the country, with frequent ferry crossings being a necessity, together with the poor quality of many of the roads, road travel can be very slow. Traffic drives on the left. Bus: The Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) provides a country-wide network of bus services. All major towns are served; fares are generally low. Taxi: Generally available at airports and major hotels. Fares should always be agreed upon before travelling. Car hire: Cars may be hired at Dhaka airport, the Bangladesh Tourism Corporation Office or from the major hotels. However, in the major cities, it is relatively easy and inexpensive to hire chauffeur-driven cars. Documentation: International Driving Permit required. URBAN: There are bus services, which are usually very crowded and unreliable, in Dhaka provided by the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation. The Central Bus Station is on Station Road (Fulbaria); there are also several other terminals which are, in general, for long-distance services. Buses and bus stations do not generally have signs in English. There are also an estimated 10,000 independent ‘auto-rickshaw’ three-wheeler taxis (avoid night-time use). Conventional taxis are also available. TRAVEL TIMES: The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Dhaka to other major cities/towns in Bangladesh. Air Road Rail Chittagong 0.35 6.00 6.00 Sylhet 0.30 7.00 7.00 Rajshahi 0.45 12.00 13.00 Khulna - 10.00 - Rangpur - 11.30 11.30 Dinajpur - 12.00 13.00 Jessore 0.30 9.00 - Accommodation HOTELS: There are a few 5-star hotels in Dhaka, Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar. All rates are for European Plan. The Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (see Contact Addresses section) manages several modern hotels throughout the country. Bills are usually paid in hard currency or with travellers cheques. GUEST-HOUSES: Government-owned and private guest-houses are available to hire throughout the country. Enquire at the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (see Contact Addresses section). Introduction The country is divided into five administrative areas: Dhaka (North Central); Rajshahi (Northwest); Khulna (Southwest); Barisal (South); and Chittagong (Southeast). Formerly, ‘Dhaka’ was spelt ‘Dacca’. Dhaka (North) Dhaka, the historic city and capital of Bangladesh, lies on the Buriganga River. The river connects the city with all major inland ports in the country, contributing to its trade and commerce, as it has done for centuries. The old part of the city, to the south of the centre and on the banks of the river, is dominated both by the commercial bustle of the waterfront and several old buildings. These include the uncompleted 17th-century Lalbagh Fort, the spectacular Ahsan Manzil palace museum, the Chotta Katra and a large number of mosques. To the north of this region is the European quarter (also known as British City), which contains the Banga Bhavan, the presidential palace, several parks, the Dhakeswari Temple and the National Museum. To the north and the east are to be found the commercial and diplomatic regions of Dhaka. The Zoo and Botanical Gardens are a bus or taxi ride into the suburbs. The waterfront has two main water transport terminals at Sadarghat and Badam Tali, located on the Buckland Road Bund. The famous ‘Rocket’ ferries dock here and boats can also be hired. There are many buildings of interest along the river and in the old part of the city. The Khan Mohammed Mirdha Mosque and the Mausoleum of Pari Bibi are worth a visit, as are the Baldha Gardens with their collection of rare plants. There are dozens of mosques and bazaars to visit – the Kashaitully Mosque is especially beautiful. The modern part of the city comprises the diplomatic and commercial regions and is to be found further north in areas such as Motijheel and Gulshan. City tours of Dhaka and its environs are available: contact the Parjatan Tourist Information Centre for further information. Excursions: Sonargaon, about 30km (20 miles) east of Dhaka, was the capital of the region between the 13th and early 17th centuries and retains a number of historical relics of interest, although many of these are now in ruins. The Rajendrapur National Park, about 50km (30 miles) north of the capital, is noted for its varied birdlife. Northwest of Dhaka is Dhamrai which contains several Hindu temples. Further north still is Mymensingh, at the centre of a region famous for its supply of high-quality jute. The Madhupur National Park and Game Sanctuary is situated about 160km (99 miles) from Dhaka. North of Dhaka is Sylhet, known as ‘the land of two leaves and a bud’ because of its long renown as a tea-growing area. Srimongol is the main centre of the Sylhet tea gardens. Nearby Madhabkunda is noted for panoramic scenery and enchanting waterfalls. Around 43km (27 miles) from Sylhet are the ruins of Jaintiapur, once the capital of an ancient kingdom. Tamabil is a border outpost on Sylhet–Shilong Road. There are excellent views of the surrounding area, including some spectacular waterfalls across the Indian border. Zaflong is a scenic spot nearby, set amidst tea gardens and beautiful hills. Rajshahi (Northwest) Rajshahi Division, in the northwest of the country, is often ignored by tourists, but it contains a large number of archaeological sites. The most important of these are at Paharpur, where the vast Buddhist monastery of Somapuri Vihara and the Satyapir Vita temple are located; there is also a museum. Other places of interest in the region include the ancient Hindu settlement of Sherpur, near Bogra; Mahastanagar, also near Bogra, which dates back to the third century BC; Vasu Vihara, 14km (9 miles) to the northwest, the site of an ancient but now ruined monastery; Rajshahi, on the Ganges, which has a museum displaying many of the archaeological relics of the area; and Gaur, very close to the border with the Indian state of West Bengal, which contains a number of old mosques. Bogra is a useful base for visiting the archaeological sites of Paharpur, Mahastanagar and Sherpur, although not intrinsically interesting itself. The Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (NTO) offers package tours to these sites. Khulna (Southwest) Khulna Division is principally marshland and jungle. The city of the same name is the administrative capital of the division and is mainly a commercial centre, particularly for river traffic. The principal place of interest in this area of the country is the Sundarbans National Park, a supreme example of lush coastal vegetation and the variety of wildlife which it can support. The most famous inhabitants of this region are the Royal Bengal tigers, but spotted deer, monkeys and a great variety of birds are also to be found here. Tours (usually for ten people or more) are organized by the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation during the winter; otherwise boats can be hired from Khulna or Mongla, which is the main port for the Khulna region. Accommodation is available at Heron Point. Other places of interest include the mosque of Sat Gombud, and the town of Bagerhat (home of Khan Jahan Ali, a well-known Sufi mystic). Barisal (South) Barisal is the administrative centre of the division of the same name. Situated in an area dissected by rivers, it is the most important river port in the south of the country. Just 10km (6 miles) outside Barisal at Madubashah is a lake and bird sanctuary. Kuakata is the most outstanding tourist attraction. It is a scenic beauty spot on the southernmost tip of Bangladesh in the district of Patuakhali and has a wide sandy beach which is an ideal vantage point to watch the sun rise and set. Other attractions include two pre-Moghul mosques: one, which boasts nine domes, is situated at the village of Qasba Guarnadi and the other, built in 1464, is near Patuakhali. Chittagong (Southeast) Chittagong, the second-largest city in the country, is the principal city of the southeastern administrative division of Bangladesh. It is a thriving port set amid lovely natural surroundings studded with green-clad knolls, coconut palms, mosques and minarets, against the background of the blue waters of the Bay of Bengal. The Old City retains many echoes of past European settlements, mainly by the Portuguese, as well as many mosques. These include the 17th-century Shahi Jama-e-Masjid – which closely resembles a fort – set astride a hilltop, and the earlier Qadam Mubarek Mosque. The Chilla of Bada Shah stands to the west of Bakshirhat in the old city. The higher ground to the northwest was, in due course, settled by the British, and this is now where most of the city’s commercial activity is conducted. The Dargah of Sah Amanat is a holy shrine located in the heart of the town. Excursions: Approximately 8km (5 miles) from Chittagong is the picturesque Foy’s Lake in the railway township of Pahartali. The Tomb of Sultan Bayazid Bostami, a holy shrine situated on a hillock in Nasirabad, is situated 6km (4 miles) to the northwest of the town. At its base is a large tank with several hundred tortoises, supposedly the descendants of evil spirits. Northeast of Chittagong is Rangamati, a place of scenic beauty and unspoiled tribal life. It is perched on the bank of the man-made Kaptai Lake. In the extreme south of Bangladesh is Cox’s Bazar, a thriving regional tourist centre and beach resort, with a mixed population of Bengali and Burmese origin. The town has many thriving cottage industries for weaving and cigar making. This is also where the world’s longest and broadest beach, Inani Beach, can be found; it is 120km (75 miles) long and 55m (180ft) to 90m (300ft) broad (depending on the tide). It has not, however, been fully developed for tourism. The main tourist beach is Patenga, which is also broad and long. Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation offers excellent accommodation and catering facilities (see Contact Addresses section). Sport & Activities Wildlife: Bangladesh has several national parks with abundant wildlife (including the rare Royal Bengal tiger) and many species of exotic birds. Tours (usually for groups of ten or more people) are organised by the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (see Contact Addresses section). For further details, see the Resorts & Excursions section. Watersports: Located in the Rangamati Hill District, Kapati Lake offers good opportunities for sailing, swimming and fishing. A range of watersports is also available on the coast, particularly at Cox’s Bazar (see Resorts & Excursions for details). Boating enthusiasts may head to Sunderbands National Park, large parts of which are only accessible by rowing boat. Spectator sports: Cricket, hockey and football are amongst the most popular national sports. The Dhaka Metropolitan Soccer League season begins in April. Games are held in the city stadium and playgrounds. Floodlit badminton courts can be found almost everywhere and visitors are welcome to join the locals at one of their favourite games. Social Profile Food & Drink: There are plenty of good restaurants in Dhaka and main towns around the country. Western food can be found in most hotels and in some large restaurants. Local specialities include a variety of curries such as korma, bhuna, masala gosht, kashmiri and tikka. Dishes are usually served with rice, naan or paratha (griddle-fried flat breads). Kebabs are widely available. Seafood and fresh-water fish are in natural abundance and smoked hilsa, fresh bhetki, chingri and prawns are definitely worth trying. Desserts tend to be sweet and milky including misti dhohi (sweetened yoghurt), zorda (sweet rice with nuts) and ros malai (round sweets floating in thick milk). Alcoholic drink is expensive and strict Muslim customs severely limit availability and drinking times, although leading hotels have bars which will serve alcohol. Local drinks included chai (milky sweet tea), lassi (yoghurt drink) and coconut water. Nightlife: Leading hotels have bars, but Western-style nightclubs do not exist. Displays of local dance and music are occasionally to be seen, particularly during religious festivals. Traditional theatre can be seen in major cities and the Dhaka City Corporation has recently opened a modern theatre hall called Dhaka Mohanagor Natya Mancha. Shopping: Bangladesh is famous for its pink pearl. Hand-loom fabrics, silks, printed saris, coconut masks, bamboo products, mother-of-pearl jewellery, leather crafts, wood and cane handicrafts and folk dolls are popular purchases. Duty-free shops are available in Dhaka and international airports. Shopping hours: Generally Sat-Thurs 0900-2000, Fri 0900-1230 and 1400-2000 (shops in tourist districts often stay open later). Social Conventions: In someone’s home it is acceptable to sit crossed-legged on cushions or the sofa. If a visitor wishes to bring a gift, money must not be given as it may cause offence. Religious customs should be respected by guests. For instance, women should not be specifically photographed unless it is certain that there will be no objection. Women should wear trousers or long skirts; revealing clothes should be avoided, particularly when visiting religious places. Dress is generally informal for men. Photography: In rural areas people are becoming more used to tourists, however permission should be requested before photographs are taken of individuals. Do not photograph military installations. Tipping: Most services expect a tip in hotels; give ten per cent for restaurant staff and five per cent for taxi drivers. Business Profile Economy: With few mineral resources, overcrowded Bangladesh depends mainly on a subsistence agriculture which suffers frequent and severe damage from cyclones and flooding. Tea and jute are the main cash crops – Bangladesh supplies about 90 per cent of the world’s raw jute – production of both of which has dipped in recent years, again largely owing to the weather. There are large reserves of natural gas and some deposits of low-grade coal which meet the bulk of domestic energy requirements. Offshore gas production, which has just begun in the Bay of Bengal, may soon improve the country’s overall energy situation and provide a valuable source of export revenue. Most of the manufacturing workforce is based in jute-related industries; the remainder works in textiles, chemicals and sugar. However, Bangladesh will continue to rely heavily on foreign aid: at present this derives from a variety of sources co-ordinated by the World-Bank-led ‘Paris Club’ of donors. The country’s economic stability and consistent growth during the last decade (currently six per cent) has improved its international status and it is now beginning to attract sizeable foreign investment. The USA is substantially the largest export market followed by Italy, Japan, Singapore and the UK. Japan, Canada and Singapore are the country’s main suppliers of imports, which are mostly manufactured goods. Bangladesh is a member of the seven-strong South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation, the main economic grouping in the region. Business: Tropical-weight suits or shirt and tie are recommended. Suits are necessary when calling on Bengali officials. Cards are given and usual courtesies are observed. Visitors should not be misled by the high illiteracy rate and low educational level of most of the population. Given the opportunity, Bangladeshis prove to be good business people and tough negotiators. The best time to visit is October to March. Office hours: Sun-Thurs 0900-1700 and 0800-1430 (government offices). Commercial Information: The following organisation can offer advice: Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Federation Bhaban, PO Box 2079, 60 Motijheel, Dhaka 1000 (tel: (2) 956 0102; fax (2) 863 213). Climate Very hot, tropical climate with a monsoon season from April to October when temperatures are highest; rainfall averages over 2540mm. The cool season is between November and March. Required clothing: Lightweight cottons and linens throughout the year. Warmer clothes are needed in the evenings during the cool season. Waterproofs are necessary during the monsoon season. History and Government History: Bangladesh was formerly East Pakistan, a constituent of the original state of Pakistan created by the British in 1947 as part of the partitioning of Britain’s former Indian Empire. The two halves of the country were separated by more than 1000 miles of Indian territory, creating an almost certain recipe for political tension. Disputes over language and political power came to a head in 1970 when the pro-independence Awami League won an overwhelming majority in what turned out to be East Pakistan’s last general election. The Pakistani army blocked the Awami leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, from taking up the premiership. The Awami leadership announced East Pakistan’s secession, after which the country was rapidly consumed by civil war. The war lasted for most of 1971 and was brought to an end by the intervention of India which forced Pakistan to surrender. Political stability proved elusive as, during the next 20 years, the country was overtaken by a succession of military coups along with frequent impositions of martial law and states of emergency. However, since the beginning of the 1990s, civilians have controlled the Government. The main political parties, the Awami League and the Bangladesh National Party (BNP, Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Dal) are both – unusually for a Muslim country – led by women. The acrimonious rivalry between Awami leader Sheikha Hasina Wajed and BNP leader Begum Khaleda Zia is a central feature of Bangladeshi politics. The elections of September 1996 gave victory to Sheikha Hasina and the Awami League; the most recent poll in September 2001 reversed the position, with Khaleda Zia securing a landslide victory for the BNP and its three smaller coalition partners. Bangladesh’s geographical position and topography have always made it vulnerable to the regional climate, especially storms and flooding. Yet, by these standards, the damage wrought on the country during the last five years has been exceptional. The Government has consequently been forced to make repeated requests for aid from the international community. Within the South Asia region Bangladeshi relations with Pakistan, normalised in 1976, have since been reasonably stable. However, there are unresolved disputes with both India and Myanmar. The latter mainly concerns Myanmar’s treatment of its Rohingya minority, a predominantly Muslim ethnic group who were expelled across the border en masse by the Myanmar junta during the early 1990s and now inhabit refugee camps around the Cox’s Bazar area. The Indian situation is more serious and involves several factors. First, a number of rebel groups are seeking regional autonomy operating in the Chittagong Hill Tracts from bases in Bangladeshi territory (although their campaign appears to have been suspended following negotiations with the Bangladeshi government). Second, there is a territorial dispute over a number of enclaves of Indian territory isolated inside Bangladesh. There have been several border clashes between security forces from the two countries, most recently in May 2001 when there were several casualties. Government: After 16 years of presidential government, punctuated by spells of martial law, Bangladesh reverted to its original parliamentary system in August 1992 when constitutional amendments were approved by national referendum. Three hundred of the 330-member Jatiya Sangsad (parliament) are elected by adult suffrage; the remaining 30 seats are reserved for women and are selected by the other members. The Prime Minister is the leader of the majority party in the Jatiya Sangsad. Its members also elect the largely titular post of President, who is the Head of State. Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.