Bangladesh

Beautiful Bangladesh

Overview of Bangladesh

History

Dominated at different periods of history by Buddhists, Hindus, the Mughals and the East India Company, modern Bangladesh is a product of imperial Britain’s Partition of India – a majority-Muslim nation initially joined to Pakistan, and finally born as an independent nation in 1971 after a bloody liberation war.

Geography

Bangladesh is blessed with deep, rich, and fertile soil, a gift from the three major rivers that form the deltaic plain upon which it sits. The Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna Rivers all wend their way down from the Himalayas, carrying nutrients to replenish Bangladesh’s fields.

This luxury comes at a heavy cost, however. Bangladesh is almost entirely flat, and except for some hills along the Burmese border, it almost entirely at sea level. As a result, the country is regularly flooded by the rivers, by tropical cyclones off the Bay of Bengal, and by tidal bores. Bangladesh is bordered by India all around it, except a short border with Burma (Myanmar) in the southeast.

"Bangladesh - Country Quick-facts’’

Area: 147,570 sq km

Capital: Dhaka

Country Code: 880

Population: 159,000,000

Population Density: 3,300 per square mile

Currency: Taka

Drives on the: Left

Location: Located in South Asia with a coastline of 580 km (360 mi) on the northern littoral of the Bay of Bengal

Official Language: Bangla (Bengali)

Religion: Muslim

Time Zone: GMT+6

Getting a Visa for Bangladesh

As a sovereign state, Bangladesh requires all foreigners to obtain permission to enter its territory. Visas are issued by Bangladesh missions located throughout the world or, if applicable, on arrival in Bangladesh. All foreigners require a valid Bangladeshi visa to enter Bangladesh. Most diplomats can get a Visa On Arrival in Bangladesh if travelling with a diplomatic passport. Tourists, investors and business travellers can get a single entry Visa On Arrival in Bangladesh, if travelling with an eligible passport; carrying US $500 in cash/credit; having a return/onward air ticket or train ticket; and if entering Bangladesh by air, sea or road but not on a train. The Visa On Arrival fee must be paid only in cash when entering Bangladesh and the cost per person is US $51 or €51, with all taxes included. The maximum duration of this single entry Visa On Arrival is 30 days and it can be extended for an additional 30 days. Applicants can apply for the extension of the Visa On Arrival up to a week before visa expiry but not sooner. Visa extensions are available at the Department of Immigration and Passports located in West Agargaon, Dhaka City.

Climate

Bangladesh has a subtropical monsoon climate characterized by wide seasonal variations in rainfall, high temperatures and humidity. There are three distinct seasons in Bangladesh: a hot, humid summer from March to June; a cool, rainy monsoon season from June to October; and a cool, dry winter from October to March.

Best Time to Visit Bangladesh

March to April

These months are generally considered as the ideal time to visit Bangladesh. The country experiences a transition season during March and April that attributes to a cooler and more pleasant climate conditions.

October

October is yet another month of seasonal transition. Visiting Bangladesh during this time of the year can be an option. It is important to note here in this regard that the country might witness some amount of hurricane between October and November.

November to February

These months mark the winter season in the country and are ideal for planning holidays in Bangladesh.

Currency of Bangladesh

The currency of Bangladesh is the Bangladeshi taka, normally symbolized by ৳ or Tk. Just as the US dollar is usually written as USD, the Bangladesh taka’s code is BDT. The currency is controlled by the country’s central bank, known as the Bangladesh Bank. Its operations are monitored by the Ministry of Finance.