Bangladesh is a borders the Bay of Bengal to the South, almost entirely encircled by India to the West, North and East, and Myanmar to the Southeast. Although off the beaten path by virtually any measurement, Bangladesh is populated by friendly locals.
Understand
British India was granted Independence in 1947 the region of Bengal was united briefly but was partitioned by joint leaders of the Congress, All India-Muslim League and Great Britain itself in the summer of 1947, creating the commonwealth realms of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and a Republic of India.
Bangladesh officially came into existence in 1971 when Bengali-speaking Muslim-majority East Pakistan was allocated as a Pakistani colony seceded from its Union with Punjabi dominated populous West Pakistan after a 9 month bloody civil war between the former countrymen. Although Bangladesh emerged as an rebellious Independent country only in 1971, its history stretches back thousands of years and it has long been known as a crossroads of history and culture with Southeast Asia. Here you will find the world’s longest beach, countless mosques, the largest mangrove forest in the world, interesting tribal villages and a wealth of elusive wild life. Although relatively impoverished compared to its burgeoning Southern Indoasian neighbour Republic of India, Bangladeshis are very friendly and hospitable people, putting personal hospitality before personal finances.
Bangladesh’s official religion is Islam which makes up over 90% of the country’s population.
Ready-made garments, textiles, pharmaceuticals, agricultural goods, ship building and fishing are some of the largest industries. The gap between rich and poor is increasingly obvious and the middle-class is fast-shrinking, as in the rest of Southeast Asia, especially in cities such as Dhaka and Chittagong as you move around between the working class old city and affluent neighborhoods like Gulshan and Baridhara.
Climate. Bangladesh has a sub tropical monsoon climate. There are six seasons in a year: Winter (Dec-Jan), Spring (Feb-Mar), Summer (Apr-May), Monsoon (June-July), Autumn (Aug-Sep), and Late Autumn (Oct-Nov). The average temperature across the country usually ranges between 9C – 29C in winter months and between 21C – 34C during summer months. Annual rainfall varies from 160cm to 200cm in the West, 200cm to 400cm in the Southeast and 250cm to 400cm in the Northeast. Cyclones above category three/four are uncommon (especially in the deep winter January through March)– but while rare, can still bring widespread disruption as expected to infrastructure and power outages, especially in the coastal areas. The weather pattern is akin to the Gulf Coast in the United States (Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana).
Landscape. The country is primarily a low-lying plain of about 144,000 km2, situated on deltas of large rivers flowing from the Himalayas: the Ganges unites with the Jamuna (main channel of the Brahmaputra) and later joins the Meghna to eventually empty into the Bay of Bengal. The country is primarily flat fertile farmland and, with the exception of Chittagong Hill Tracts, rarely exceeds 10 meters above sea level, making it dangerously susceptible to changes in sea level.
Highest point: Bijoy (1,231 meters).
Holidays. Eid-ul-Fitr – the largest Muslim holiday of the year, it celebrates the end of the holy month of Ramazan. Food is the highlight, and if you’re lucky you’ll be invited into a private home for a feast. Businesses close for at least a couple days if not a week. Eid-ul-Azha – is the second largest Muslim festival.
Durga Puja – Four days around October. The largest Hindu festival in the country, it goes on for several days with festivities varying each day.
REGIONS
Bangladesh is a small country, broken into 8 administrative divisions:
Dhaka Division – home to the capital city along with jute and rice paddies.
Dhaka – The hectic capital city, an intense and thriving metropolis of some 12 million people that’s growing by the day.
Chittagong Division – a picturesque hinterland of large hills, forests and beaches.
Chittagong – a bustling commercial center and the largest international seaport in the country.
Rajshahi Division – known for its silk and mangoes.
Khulna Division – a relaxing, slow paced area; home of the incredible Sundarbans.
Khulna – located on the Rupsha River, famous for shrimp and a starting point for journeys into the Sundarbans.
Sylhet Division – home to endless rolling tea estates and beautiful natural scenery.
Sylhet – the largest city in the northeast, known for the shrine of Sufi saint Hazrat Shahjalal, one of the holiest sites in the country.
Barisal Division – the land of rivers, rice paddies, and lush vegetation.
Barisal – Southern city famous for Paddy growing and its many rivers, best reached by a slow-paced and relaxing boat ride on the Rocket Steamer.
Rangpur Division – Indian influence and orange-colored limes. Rangpur – important city in the north-west, with extensive agriculture and trade.
Mymensingh – a historic city located by the side of river Brahmaputa with a rich cultural and political history dating back more than 200 years.
Rajshahi – the silk city.
Jessore – a bustling district town, and convenient transit point to or from Kolkata; famous for Gur, a form of cake-like molasses produced from the extract of the date tree.
Other destinations
Cox’s Bazar – the longest beach in the world.
Bagerhat – an important historical centre and site of several mosques including the famous Shait Gambuj Masjid (60 Dome Mosque).
Bogra- a culturally Buddhist area.
Paharpur – ruins of an ancient Buddhist vihara.
Rangamati- the colourful tribal experience of Bangladesh.
St Martin’s Island – the country’s only coral island with friendly locals, a laid back vibe, and coconuts to spare.
Sundarbans – the largest mangrove forest in the world, with lots of bird life and home to the very elusive Royal Bengal Tiger.
Bandarban – The land of highest peak
GET IN
Visas. Most Caribbean and Africa: do not require visas for stays of up to 90 days. Most western countries: 30 days.
There is a flat visa fee of US $50, plus VAT of BDT 7 (approx. $0.08). In reality they take $51 and somewhere along the line $0.92 gets pocketed. You must pay in USD. First you have to pay, then you have to fill out an arrival card and a visa application form and then go to the visa counter. A hotel reservation OR a return ticket is obligatory for a tourist visa’
By plane. Shahjalal International Airport (DAC) in Dhaka is the main gateway to the country, though Chittagong and Sylhet also receive international flights.
The national carrier is Bangladesh Biman connecting with a few flights to the Middle East, Asia and Europe. It is now under re-organization and many international routes have been curtailed. Currently, routes to the UK (London & Manchester), Italy (Rome & Milan) exist in Europe, as well as a number of Middle Eastern destinations, Kolkata, Kathmandu, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
The private carrier US Bangla [ https://flyusbair.com/welcome], and Regent Airways, operates domestic and regional flights from Dhaka to Bangkok, Muscat, Kolkata, Singapore, Doha, Kathmandu, Dammam, Guangzhou and Kuala Lumpur, and is far better managed than Biman.
Connecting from the Middle East: There are direct flights to Dhaka from Qatar (Qatar Airways), Oman (Oman Air), Bahrain (Gulf Air), Saudi Arabia (Saudia) and the United Arab Emirates on Emirates to Dubai or Etihad Airways to Abu Dhabi through which you can connect to most Asian and European capitals and several North American hubs. Emirates, for instance, serves New York, Toronto and Houston from their Dubai (DXB) hub non-stop — and then connects to Dhaka via a short four-hour hop.
Connecting from East Asia: Hong Kong (Chek Lap Kok) and Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) are the most convenient nearby hubs to reach Bangladesh from Eastern Asia (Beijing, Tokyo) and points further East (Western United States). China Eastern Airlines flies frequently to Kunming, and China Southern to their hub in Guangzhou.
The most exotic destination from Dhaka is to Paro (Bhutan’s Capital) and is served by Druk-Air [23], the national Bhutanese airline on Sundays (9:00 AM flight taking an hour). The approach to Paro Airport (PBH) is an adventure in itself.
By bus. The only open land borders are those with India. No land crossing is possible to Myanmar.
From Kolkata. The most common way is the regular comfortable a/c buses from Kolkata to Dhaka via the Haridaspur / Benapole border post. From Shillong to the Indian border village Dawki. From Siliguri to Dhaka.
From Agartala, capital of India’s Tripura state to Dhaka
By train. Train services from India were suspended for 42 years, but the Maitree Express started running again between Dhaka to Kolkata in 2008, 5 times a week: A Bangladeshi train leaves Dhaka every Tuesday,Friday, Sunday, while an Indian train leaves Dhaka on Saturdays and Wednesday. A Bangladeshi train laves Kolkata every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday while Indian train leaves on Tuesday and Friday. Another train called “Bandhan Express” started between Kolkata and Khulna in November 2017. It is a Biweekly train that runs on Sunday and Thursday.
GET AROUND
By plane. Air travel in Bangladesh is very affordable and convenient. As with most flights, the earlier you book, the better your fare. Flight time is nearly always less than 1 hour, but can save many hours of tedious and dangerous road travel. Dhaka’s domestic terminal lies next to the International Terminals, within easy walking distance. Check in normally is open from 60 until 30 minutes before departure. The terminal is small, and with few diversions, so don’t arrive too early.
There are airports in all of the divisional capitals and in Jessore, Cox’s Bazar and some other small cities like Syedpur. Regent Airways, Novoair and US Bangla Airlines are operating domestic flights. National airline Biman also fly domestic routes . Chittagong is often served with wide body aircraft enroute to the Middle East. Currently, all air routes in the country operate via Dhaka.
By bus. Local Bangladeshi buses are generally crowded, often to the extent of people riding on the bus steps (entrance) and sometimes even the roof. The state run Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) buses usually fall into this category. Avoid all of the low cost buses – they are easy to spot by their poor condition. There are daily fatal accidents involving them. If you do use them, it is worth noting that they do not usually stop, but rather slow down slightly to let passengers on or off – you may have to simply jump off the bus (literally). If you do not speak the language, simply ask the driver for it or for small places the next big city “behind” your destination. If they go your direction, they will give you signal to get on the bus. Additionally, fare collectors, disconcertingly, do not wear uniform, but easy to identify: the one who holds lots of small cash in his hand.
However, there are luxurious air conditioned bus services connecting major cities and popular tourist destinations. Green Line, Shyamoli, SilkLine and Shohagh.
Bus stations are often very busy and disorganized. The main Sydabad station in Dhaka is extremely chaotic. The approach to the “station” can take many hours due to the lack of paved roads, street lights, traffic lights and decorum. You should take care when having luggage stored in the hold of buses, even on the better carrier that will tag your bag. Things do go missing (taken off early, or even, not loaded in the first place. Make sure you out your suitcase in yourself, ideally first, so other luggage is in a thieves firing line.
By anything else with wheels. Motorbikes, going to CNGs, electrified rickshaws, 3 wheeler or plattforms, that are pulled by a tractor engine. If you want to go somewhere, simply go on the side of the road that heads in the direction of your destination and flag down the next best thing that passes by and has already passengers inside. The last part is especially important, because locals believe that foreigners want to charter the whole ride, which is usually 10x the price. Expect to pay 5 to 10 Taka for anything electric powered and tractors; human powered rickshaws, motorbikes and CNGs are more expensive. Jump out (and pay), if the ride makes a turn into the “wrong” direction and get on the next.
By car. Driving in Bangladesh is not for the faint hearted – the road network is fairly good, but dodging irrational bus drivers and weaving in and out of rickshaws isn’t easy on the nerves. Driving standards are some of the worst in the world, as notable by the many cars which have bumper bars that encircle the whole car. Traffic in Dhaka has reached unimaginable proportions, and self-driving is definitely not advised. Parking places are non-existent. It is highly advised to hire a local driver. Night time driving is substantially more dangerous as trucks/buses often ignore smaller cars; road travel at night should be avoided, regardless of who’s driving.
Officially, cars drive on the left; in reality, cars drive on any side of the road. The speed limit is 25 km/h on all urban roads, though it is highly unlikely a vehicle will even reach this speed with the traffic. Many traffic lights have been installed in recent times, but these are often disregarded by both drivers and traffic police. Traffic police direct cars on all major intersections in urban areas. On many country roads, it is illegal to overtake; but again, this is completely ignored, with locals employing extremely dangerous manoeuvres when passing the vehicle in front of them. The cities are well lit, but country roads often lack street lighting. Some new inter-city roads have tolls, especially new bridges; these are fairly cheap.
By train. Bangladesh Railways is the state and only train operator. Tickets can be booked over the phone, though unless you speak Bengali you’re likely to get better results at one of the computerized station booking offices.
Trains are generally comfortable, with more leg room than buses. Though the carriages are generally not very clean, the AC and 1st class seats are manageable. Sulob class is the highest 2nd class ticket, with reserved seating and not much different from 1st class (except in price).
Kamlapur Rail Station in Dhaka is large and modern. It serves all major cities but due to the existence of broad gauge and meter gauge tracks around the country it may be required to change trains en route.
By boat. There are over 230 mighty and small rivers throughout the country, and boats and ferries are an integral part of travel for locals and tourists alike. A journey along the river in any mode is probably the best way to see Bangladesh. There are a number of private tour operators offering river sightseeing trips of various lengths, or using the ferries to get between cities is a great way to see the country at a moderate pace.
The Rocket Steamer service connects Dhaka and Khulna via Barisal, and is a fantastic way to enjoy riverine Bangladesh, for those who prefer the scenic route. The 4 ferries are operated by BIWTC and run several times per week in each direction. It’s advisable to book several days in advance if possible. While there are several different classes it’s unlikely that you will end up in anything but 1st or 2nd class. Both of these consist of around 10 small berths on the upper deck of the boat with 2 beds each and a sink (no doubt doubling as a urinal), and fairly clean shared bathrooms. There’s a central dining/sitting room in each class with a chef cooking Bengali meals and the odd fish-and-chips or an omelette for around Tk 50-150. Cheaper food can be bought at the vendors in the lower classes on the bottom level. First class is at the front of the boat, with the bow made into a nice sitting area. If you’re traveling single you must book 2 beds if you want a berth guaranteed to yourself in either class, though unless the boat is completely full it’s unlikely they’ll put someone in a foreigner’s room even if you just pay for one. The full journey takes anywhere from 26-30 hours and costs Tk 1010/610 in first/second class. It’s best avoided during the rainy seasons and during holidays when the launches get over crowded with home-returning city dwellers.
Talk. The national language is Bengali (Bangla) and is spoken everywhere. It’s an Indo-Aryan language derived from Prakit, Pali and Sanskrit and written in its own script. Many Bangladeshis understand only limited English such as basic affirmatives, negatives, and some numbers. This is especially so in rural areas and among the lower socio-economic classes. Learning a few Bengali words ahead of your trip will prove very useful.
Two centuries of British colonisation lead people to identify most white foreigners as either British or Americans, and to view them with curiosity. The first question you will probably be asked is “What is your country?” (“Desh kothay?” in Bangla).
Money. The currency of Bangladesh is the Bangladeshi Taka (BDT) with two symbols commonly see locally: Tk and ৳. As of January 2020, US $1 = Tk 85.
Bangladesh is one of the largest ready-made garment manufacturers in the world, exporting clothing for famous brands such as Nike, Adidas and Levis. Though these products are usually not meant for sale in the local markets, they can be found in abundance in famous shopping areas such as Banga Bazaar and Dhaka College.
ATMs can be found in most metropolitan areas.
Eat. Bangladesh is a fish lover’s paradise. Traditionally most of the country lives off of the once-bountiful freshwater river fish, especially the officially designated “national fish” Hilsa (kind of Shad fish). The Hilsa has a nice flavour, but some may find the many fine bones difficult to manage; if you can master eating this fish, consider yourself on par with the locals in fish-eating and deboning expertise. Various recipes exist for cooking Hilsa, suitable for all seasons and all regions of the country. Mutton is also popular, as in most Muslim countries, as is decidedly lean or hard chicken. Rice is almost always the staple side dish.
Mixed vegetable curries are plentiful – potato, eggplant, squash and tomatoes are the staple ingredients. Gourds, tubers and certain root vegetables are common. In the major cities (Dhaka, Chittagong, etc.), you will find a larger variety of vegetables than in rural areas.
No one should leave Bangladesh without tasting the Phuchka and Chatpati available in the streets of Dhaka, Chittagong.
Most Bangladeshis eat with their right-hand as habit in neighboring countries. Never use your left hand to bring food to your mouth, though it’s ok to use it for bringing a glass to your mouth or to serve food from a common dish with a spoon.
Drink. Nightlife in Bangladesh is nearly non-existent. Being a Muslim country, alcohol is frowned upon. Tea is everywhere. Ask for red tea if you do not want milk.
Fruit juices are plentiful, varied and delicious, though be wary of watered down or icy drinks and dirty blenders. Raw sugarcane juice is widely available during the hot season, and usually a safe, sanitary bet. Other safe bets are coconuts, popular in the southeast tourists spots like Cox’s Bazar and Saint Martins Island.
Soft Drinks are widely available. Diet versions are limited to Coke or Pepsi, and are hard to find outside of supermarkets in Dhaka or Chittagong.
DO
Bangladesh is a large and densely populated country. However, the casual tourist may find it difficult to navigate this country, where tourism by Westerners is virtually unknown. Perhaps one of Bangladesh’s greatest treasures are its people; the country is packed with friendly, honest, and amiable locals who are willing to spend time acquainting themselves with the passing tourist. Crowd of locals surrounding you to inquire about your home country, job, marital status, etc. may at first be disconcerting–but don’t worry, the locals have good intentions. The people can be impressionable, so make sure to leave a positive impact.
ACCOMMODATION. There’s a broad range of hotels in the country, from economy hotels costing $1 per night (sometimes filthy and sometimes reluctant to take foreigners) up to 5-star hotels in some of the major cities. Compared to nearby destinations (e.g. India and Thailand), the accommodation situation in Bangladesh is of a lower quality/standard, even if this is not reflected in the prices.
STAY SAFE
Bangladesh is a country full of friendly and open-minded people. But being a poor country with a high poverty rate, there are some impoverished or bad-natured people who may find ways to exploit a foreigner/tourist. Please stick to common sense precautions, such as not walking around unnecessarily or alone after dark. Also, if you do find yourself in trouble, create some noise and draw the attention of others who are almost certain to come to your aid. Foreigners, particularly Caucasian, will for the most part will be safe when walking around city streets as you will undoubtedly be watched by multiple curious locals at any one time. When travelling by rickshaw, CNG (auto-rickshaw) or bus, be careful to keep valuables close at hand. Don’t wear expensive jewellery without precaution; most middle-class locals now simply wear imitation gold/silver and rhinestones/clay and beaded pendants.
Phone snatching is very common here. Don’t exhibit your costly mobile phones on the roads. Be careful in auto rickshaws also. Even the auto’s are covered with iron grills, still many chances for cutting the side covers and pulling the valuables is common practice by thieves.
Dress. The clothing of local women varies, according to religion and degree of religious conservatism, socio-political climate (varies from time to time), geographic region, and socio-economic status. In general, as a female tourist, it is wisest to wear at least the salwar kameez, which is both easy to wear and relatively versatile and functional, while being generally culturally respectful. However, most of Bangladesh is a relatively open-minded Muslim country, and the youth in major cities (e.g.: Dhaka, Chittagong, etc.) are quite Westernised.
Nationwide strikes or “hartals” are widely employed as a means of political expression in Bangladesh. The political opposition over the past several years has called a number of these hartals, resulting in the virtual shutdown of transportation and commerce, and sometimes attacks on individuals who do not observe the hartals. Clashes between rival political groups during hartals have resulted in deaths and injuries. Visitors should avoid all political protests, demonstrations, and marches. During hartals, visitors should exercise caution in all areas and remain indoors whenever possible. Hartals, demonstrations, and other protests can occur at ANY time.
It’s best to not eat, drink or smoke anything offered to you by strangers – there’s a growing problem in many Asian countries of drugging, and you’re likely to see signs warning you against it on buses, trains, etc. That’s not to say you shouldn’t take someone up on their offer for a home cooked meal, but you may want to think twice about that piece of candy the person in the seat next to you just handed to you. Also, be careful about the sanitation procedures of local street food and snacks.
Speeding bus/coaches/trucks cause many deaths. Road signs and traffic lights are often ignored by cars, and traffic jams are always a given, making it very difficult for pedestrians to travel. It is wisest NOT to drive yourself or to walk major roads alone. Consequently, road travel (if absolutely necessary) is best undertaken with an experienced local driver in a good vehicle with safety belts. Use rickshaws with precaution; although a very authentic local drive, it is also the most dangerous vehicle for transport, especially on major routes (now being banned).
Be aware of the weather, especially during the spring and fall. Bangladesh has a similar climate to the Southeastern United States. This, unfortunately, includes severe thunderstorms and violent tornadoes that can appear suddenly and without warning.
STAY SAFE
Bottled water is recommended, as the tap water is often unsafe for foreign stomachs, and some hand-drawn tube wells are contaminated with naturally occurring arsenic. This will easily pass through filters designed only to screen out bacteria. A more environmentally friendly option is to boil your own water, or use purifying tablets. However, nothing short of distillation will remove arsenic.
It’s also wise to use discretion when eating from street vendors – make sure it’s freshly cooked and hot.
Mosquitoes can be abundant in some areas and cities, especially during the rainy and humid seasons, and nets covering your bed at night are often provided, even in some of the cheapest hotels and in all households.
Consult your travel doctor about precautions against malaria and typhoid fever. Get vaccinated and take preventive and curative medication with you before you go.
Pollution can be a problem, and in some of the cities like Dhaka and Chittagong you may wish you’d brought along an oxygen tank. While some effort has been shown recently to clean up the country such as the banning of plastic bags, there’s still a long way to go and most people use the many waterways as garbage dumps – it would be unwise to swim in most of the rivers and downright senseless in a lake.
RESPECT
Foreign tourists are still very much a novelty to many Bangladeshis: kids see you as a toy to play with, while others see you as their opportunity to practice their English with endless enthusiasm. Most however, are content to just look… and look… and look. If it becomes too much, Amar dike takaben na roughly means “please stop staring at me!”… but use the exclamation sparingly, since most Bangladeshis will think they are favouring you by admiring you so much publicly.
Most Bangladeshis are religious but fairly liberal and secular points of view are not uncommon. The people are in general very hospitable, and a few precautions will keep it this way.
Men, especially strangers and foreigners, should never attempt to shake hands with or touch local women — simply put your hand on your heart and bow slightly to greet.
Mosques are sometimes off-limits to non-Muslims and certain areas of them off-limits to women.
Standing from your seat and bowing slightly to greet elderly individuals will gain you respect and social approval.
Keep in mind that Bangladesh sees only a tiny number of foreign visitors, and most locals will be genuinely curious about you, watching your every move and expression. Don’t underestimate how impressionable some can be, make sure you’re leaving good ones!
Also keep in mind, that whenever you enter someone’s home, take off your shoes before you enter. Wearing shoes into someone’s home is considered extremely rude and insulting.
Electricity. Electricity is 220V 50Hz. There are three types of electrical outlets likely to be found in Bangladesh — the old British standard BS-546, the newer British standard BS-1363 and the European standard CEE-7/16 “Europlug”. It’s wise to pack adapters for all three.
Clothing. Most women wear either a sari or a salwar kameez. Foreign women may want to consider wearing at least the salwar kameez, out of general cultural respect. Jeans, shirts and t-shirts are common among the younger generation, although remember it’s polite to keep your shoulders, chest and legs covered. This also goes for men – shorts are worn only by young boys, and undershirts are worn alone (without a shirt covering it) only by the lowest class in public.
Shaving. Men can easily leave their razors at home and rely on the ever-present barber shops where a basic shave will run around Tk 10-20. Make sure they use a new blade, though you won’t usually have to ask. “Deluxe” shaves will run around double price and barbers will often assume foreign tourists want this, so be clear if you’re just after a quick shave and don’t want the dubious massage and forehead/nose shaving.
NM BANGLADESH
Borders: Bangladesh-India
Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars
Bangladesh Intercity Railway Experience
Maitree Express
Experiences
Barsha Utsab
Mangal Shobhajatra
Pahela Baishakh
Play Kabaddi
Shakrain Festival
NOMAD MANIA Bangladesh – Dhaka, Sylhet (Jamalpur)
M@P: Bangladesh – Zakiganj Upazila (extreme northeast)
Museums: Sonargaon: Sonargaon Folk Art and Craft Museum
Tentative WHS: Lalbagh Fort (17/02/1999)
Castles, Palaces, Forts
Faridpur: Moyez Manzil
Munshiganj: Idrakpur Fort
Narayanganj: Sonakanda Fort
Rupganj: Murapara Rajbari
Vestiges of the Past: Panam City
World of Nature
Bhawal NP
Lawachara NP
Madhutila Eco Park
Rema-Kalenga Reserved Forest
Satchari NP
Rivers
Brahmaputra River
Ganges River
Surma-Meghna
Zoos: Sreepur: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park
Waterfalls: Madhabkunda Falls
The Dark Side: Panam City (ghost town)
Cities of Asia and Oceania
GAZIPUR
MYMENSINGH
Museums: Mymensingh: Mymensingh Museum
SYLHET
Airports: Sylhet (ZYL)
Museums: Sylhet: Osmani Museum
DHAKA World Cities and Popular Towns World Capitals
Airports: Dhaka (DAC)
Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars: Kamalapur Railway Station, Dhaka
Museums
Bangabandhu Museum
Bangladesh Military Museum
Bangladesh National Museum
Liberation War Museum
Museum of Independence
National Art Gallery
National Museum of Science and Technology
Taka Museum
Castles, Palaces, Forts
Ahsan Manzil Palace
Lalbagh Fort
Rose Garden Palace
Religious Temples
Baitul Mukarram
Chawkbazar Shahi Mosque
St. Mary’s Cathedral
Star Mosque
Modern Architecture Buildings: Parliament Building (Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban)
Festivals
Dhaka International Film Festival
Dhaka World Music Festival
Zoos: Bangladesh National Zoo
Botanical Gardens
National Botanical Garden
Baldha Garden
Planetariums: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novo Theatre
Malls/Department Stores: Jamuna Future Park
Markets: New Market
Urban Legends: Ramna Park
Monuments: Shaheed Minar
Aviation Museums: Bangladesh Air Force Museum
The Dark Side: Bangabandhu Museum
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NOMAD MANIA Bangladesh – Rajshahi, Rangpur (Dinajpur)
M@P
Dahagram-Angarpota
Dahala Khagrabari (formerly India; only third-order enclave in the world)
Tetulia Upazila (extreme Northwest)
Tentative WHS
Halud Vihara (17/02/1999)
Jaggadala Vihara (17/02/1999)
Mahansthangarh and its Environs (17/02/1999)
XL
Hili
Panchagarh/Tentulia Panhandle
Airports: Saidpur (SPD)
Castles, Palaces, Forts
Natore: Uttara Ganabhaban
Puthia Rajbari
Vestiges of the Past
Halud Vihara
Jagaddala Vihara
Religious Temples
Dinajpur: Kantaji Temple
Puthia: Puthia Temple Complex
World of Nature: Ramsagar NP
Rivers
Atrai River
Brahmaputra River
Ganges River
Padma/Podda River
Raidāk/Wang Chhu River
Cities of Asia and Oceania
BOGRA
RAJSHAHI World Cities and Popular Towns
Museums: Rajshahi: Varendra Museum
RANGPUR
Castles, Palaces, Forts: Rangpur: Tajhat Palace
Zoos: Rangpur: Rangpur Zoo
PAHARPUR
World Heritage Sites: Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur
Vestiges of the Past: Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur
Religious Temples: Paharpur: Buddhist Vihara
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NOMAD MANIA Bangladesh – Barisal, Khulna (Jessore, Sundarbans)
World Heritage Sites
Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat
The Sundarbans
Islands
Bhola
Hatia
Manpura
Cities of Asia and Oceania
BARISAL
JESSORE
Airports: Jessore (JSR)
KHULNA World Cities and Popular Towns
Museums: Khulna: Divisional Museum
The Dark Side: Khulna: 1971 Genocide-Torture Museum
Railway, Metro, Funiculars, Cable Cars: Bandhan Express (Kolkata-Khulna)
Religious Temples: Bagerhat: Shaat Gambuj Mosque (Sixty Dome Mosque)
World of Nature
Kuakata Eco Park
Sundarbans NP
Rivers
Ganges River
Nabaganga River
Beaches: Kuakata Beach
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NOMAD MANIA Bangladesh – Chittagong (Cox’s Bazar)
M@P: Bangladesh – St. Martin’s island
Tentative WHS: The Lalmai-Mainamati Group of monuments (17/02/1999)
Islands
Dal Char
Kutubdia
Mahesh Khali
Sandwip
XL
Chittagong Hill Tracts
Extreme southeastern peninsula (Teknaf)
Parshuram area panhandle (border with Tripura)
St. Martin’s Island
Cities of Asia and Oceania
COMILLA
COX’S BAZAR
Airports: Cox’s Bazar (CXB)
CHITTAGONG World Cities and Popular Towns
Airports: Chittagong (CGP)
Museums
Ethnological Museum
Fisheries Museum
Zia Memorial Museum
Religious Temples: Baitul Falah Mosque
Zoos: Butterfly Park Bangladesh
Villages and Small Towns: Passing Para
Vestiges of the Past: Shalban Vihara
World of Nature
Banshkhali Eco Park
Chimbuk Forest
Dulhazra Safari Park
Himchari NP
Kaptai NP
Nijhum Dwip NP
Pablakhali Wildlife Sanctuary
Sajek Valley
Shangu Wildlife Sanctuary
Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary
Lakes: Kaptai Lake
Rivers
Brahmaputra River
Ganges River
Botanical Gardens: Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Eco Park
Beaches: Cox’s Bazar Beach
Waterfalls
Khoiyachora Waterfall
Nafa-khum Waterfall
Caves: Alutila Cave
