BANGLADESH - RECREATIONAL AND BUSINESS TRAVEL INFORMATION

Your complete guide on how to start and do business with Bangladesh. Information such as import/export regulations, customs information, tax , currency, copyrights, etc.

BASIC ETIQUETTE
• Greetings usually take place between members of the same sex.
• The hand shake is common although they may feel rather limp.
• Women will only really be met within business contexts and even so, it is best to wait to see if a hand is extended before doing so.
• The traditional greeting for Muslims is Asalamu alaikum to which the response is wa alaikum salam.
• Naming conventions are very much based on the hierarchical nature of Bangladeshi society.
• Bangladeshis will append a suffix to a person's name to denote respect and the level of closeness between the two people.
• In general, age dictates how people are addressed.
• If people are of the same age, they use first names.
• If the person being addressed is older than the speaker, the person is called by their first name and a suffix that denotes the family relationship.

Gift Giving Etiquette
• Gifts are mainly given between family members at religious holidays, especially after Ramadan and Hajj.
• In cities, it is becoming more common for gifts to be given on birthdays.
• In Bangladesh the importance of gifts is in the thought rather than the value. Part of the reason lies in the fact that gifts should be generally reciprocated and it would be considered rude to offer someone a gift that is difficult to reciprocate.

Some general gift giving etiquette guidelines include:

• When visiting a Bangladeshi’s home, it is more common to bring pastries, sweets or good quality chocolates.
• If bringing flowers avoid frangipanis as they are used at funerals.
• Similarly white flowers indicate mourning.
• Do not give alcohol or products containing non-halal meat to Muslims.
• Never give money.
• It is considered bad form to open gifts in front of the giver.
• Gifts are given with two hands.

Dining Etiquette
• If meeting with people for dinner here are some basic rules on etiquette and protocol:
• If invited to a meal it is rude to flatly turn the invitation down. One should always use less direct language to suggest that it may be difficult such as “I will try…” or “I will have to see”.
• Meals both inside the house and outside will usually be same sex.
• Many people eat with their hands and it may be that you share food from a common dish.
• It would not be seen as impolite if you asked for utensils.
• Ensure you wash your hands before eating.
• Guests are generally served first then the oldest, continuing in order of seniority.
• Do not start eating until the oldest person at the table begins.
• You will constantly be urged to take more food. Simply saying "I'm full" will be taken as a polite gesture and not accepted at face value. It is therefore always best to pace yourself to allow for more servings.
• The left hand is considered unclean so only eat, pass dishes or drink with the right hand.

BUSINESS ETIQUETTE BASICS
Communication Styles
• Bangladeshis are quite implicit/indirect communicators. They tend to communicate in long, rich and contextualized sentences which only make sense when properly understood in relation to body language.
• It is important for people who come from implicit/direct cultures to understand that their communication styles may be seen as rude and the information provided inadequate.
• Personal space is less of an issue in Bangladesh than many European cultures. Bengalis stand close when speaking to someone of the same gender and touch is common.
• However, when speaking with a woman the space is often increased.

Meeting & Greeting
• Business etiquette in Bangladesh is reasonably formal. Proper behaviour is expected.
• Men greet each other with a handshake upon arriving and leaving.
• Foreign men should nod to a Bangladeshi woman unless she extends her hand. Businessmen should be addressed by the term "Bahadur" ("Sir"), while women may be addressed as "Begum" ("Madam"). This may be used with or without the surname.
• Wait until your counterpart moves to a first name basis before you do so.

Business Card Etiquette
• Business cards are exchanged after the initial introduction.
• Educational qualifications are valued so include any university degrees.
• Present your business card with the right hand.
• Treat business cards given to you with respect. Merely glancing at it then throwing it on the table would be rude. Study it, comment on it and ideally place it into a business card holder.

Business Meetings
• Meetings in Bangladesh are generally the place where decisions are disseminated rather than made.
• They will usually be led by the most senior present who sets the agenda, the content, and the pace of the activities.
• Meeting structures are not very linear in Bangladesh. There may be an agenda and a starting time, but they only serve as guidelines.
• Completing a meeting fully takes priority over time and may extend well past any scheduled end time.
• Meetings may commence with some small talk.
• Communication is formal and follows a hierarchical structure. Deference to the most senior person in the group is expected. This is especially true when dealing with government officials.
• One should never let their level of professionalism slip. Casual behaviour may be misinterpreted as a lack of respect.
• Never lose your temper or show emotion. This may lead to a loss of face which will mean a loss of dignity and respect.
• The need to avoid a loss of face is also reflected in communication styles. Rather than say no or disappoint people Bangladeshis will phrase sentiments in such as way that it is up to people to read between the lines to understand what is being implied. Phrases such as "we will try", "that may be difficult", or "we will have to give that some though" may really mean “this can’t be done”.
• Therefore, it is important to ask questions in several ways so you can be certain what was meant by a vague response. Silence is often used as a communication tool.
• Many people comment on the lack of smiles in Bangladesh. This has nothing to do with unfriendliness but rather related to the fact that a serious face is believed to demonstrate maturity.

LANGUAGES
The official language is Bangla, also known as Bengali. It is the first language of more than 98 percent of the population. It is written in its own script, derived from that of Sanskrit. Many people in Bangladesh also speak English and Urdu.

Bangla vocabulary shows many influences. These include a strong Islamic influence seen in the greetings of "Salaam aleykum" (Peace be unto you) and "Khoda hafez" (God Bless you) and nouns from the Arab world such as "dokan" (shop), "tarikh"(date), "kolom"(pen) and "bonduk" (gun). In West Bengal the Hindu influence is greater with the use of the Hindu greeting "Namashkar".

English has also had an influence on Bangla. During the days of the Raj many words of English origin such as "tebil" (table), "tiffin" (archaic in modern day English meaning snack box) entered Bangla. In more recent time the ever rising global nature of English has lead to words such as "television", "telephone", "video" and "radio" being adopted by Bangla. However, unlike India, there has never been the need for English as a lingua franca and thus Bangla is the state language of Bangladesh.

RELIGION
Approximately 87% of the population are Sunni Muslims (Islam has been the state religion since 1988). 12% of the population are Hindu, with a small minority of Buddhists and Christians

INTERNATIONAL DIALLING CODE
00 880

LOCAL CURRENCY
The unit of currency is the taka (TK) which is divided into 100 piasas. There are 10, 20 and 50 piasa, and TK1 and 5 coins. There are notes in denominations of TK1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
The metric system is generally used, although local measures including the tola (11.66g) and a maund (37 kg) are also still in use. Land may be measured using katha (80 sq yards) and bigha (1,600 sq yards).

PASSPORTS
Passports are required for all foreign nationals visiting Bangladesh.

VISAS
Visas are an entry requirement for many countries' nationals. If arriving from a country with no Bangladesh representation, a 15 day visa may be issued at the airport on arrival provided the traveller holds an onward or return air ticket. However, visitors are strongly advised to obtain their visa prior to travelling. Visas can be obtained by post or in person from your countries Bangladeshi embassy or high commission.

HEALTH ADVICE / RISKS
General advice/endemic diseases
Mandatory: vaccination certificates are required for yellow fever if travelling from an infected area.
Advisable: vaccination recommended for diphtheria, tuberculosis, hepatitis A and B, Japanese encephalitis and polio. Travellers travelling outside Dhaka should take anti-malarial precautions. There is also a rabies risk.
Information on health hazards, and precautions to take when travelling abroad can be found in the leaflet 'Health advice for travellers' available from main Post offices.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is becoming more prevalent in Bangladesh although the true figures are unknown. The virus can be contracted through sexual contact or through medical treatment involving the use of hypodermic or blood transfusion equipment which may be infected. It is preferable, where possible, to seek treatment only after consultation with the your Consular representative as screening of blood for transfusions is rare.

Health insurance
It is essential to take out full medical insurance when visiting Bangladesh, check if there is  any reciprocal healthcare agreements between Bangladesh and your country (as in most cases there are not).

Health regulations
Health regulations may change, and it is best to make detailed enquiries before travelling.

Medical services
Medical facilities are inadequate in Bangladesh. There is only one registered physician for every 5,700 persons. Most diseases are water-borne.

Drinking water
Water is not safe to drink anywhere in Bangladesh and must be boiled for safety. Bottled water can generally be regarded as safe, but always check to ensure that the seal is intact.

TRAVEL TO BANGLADESH
Air
The vast majority of British business visitors to Bangladesh arrive by air. The national airline of Bangladesh is Biman Bangladesh Airlines.

International airports: Zia International (DAC), 20 km north of Dhaka, with duty free shop, bank, Post Office and car hire; Patenga (CGP), 22 km from Chittagong.

Although taxis are usually available at the airport, it is strongly recommended that transport from the airport is arranged before arrival. Taxis, car hire (usually with a driver) and transport provided by the major hotels are the normal methods of getting to or from the airport.

Road
It is possible to travel by road from a number of points in India, including West Bengal, Assam and Tripura. However, this may be difficult during monsoon seasons.

Sea
Main ports: Chittagong, Mongla and Chalna. Bangladesh's first privately owned container port is planned for Chittagong.

TRAVELLING IN BANGLADESH
Transport links in Bangladesh are often slow and prone to disruption by bad weather. Allow time for delays.

Air
The most efficient means of getting from one city to another is by aeroplane although local storms can occasionally disrupt schedules. There are regular daily flights between Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet and Khulna. Biman Bangladesh and two private airlines serve the main centres. There are regional airports at Jessore, Syedpur, Sylhet, Cox's Bazar and Rajshahi.

Rail
There are regular services on the 4,400 km railway network which connect administrative and business points of the country, but they are often slow and subject to delay. Six classes of rail travel are available: "air-conditioned", "first" and "express" are recommended. The main rail routes are Dhaka-Chittagong (journey time five hours) and Khulna-Ishurdi-Chilhati (journey time 10 hours). Rail services are being upgraded. It should be noted that passenger trains are targeted by organised gangs of thieves. Thus, travelling after dark is not recommended.

Roads
Bangladesh has over 18,700 km of paved roads. Road conditions have improved although they remain difficult during the monsoon season. Numerous ferry crossings are necessary in most areas of the country which can make journey times unpredictable. Poor driving, vehicle maintenance and unlit or poorly lit buses and lorries are the cause of frequent accidents. Major roads between towns are subject to night time armed banditry. Long distance buses and ferries are sometimes targeted by organised gangs of thieves. A US$700 million bridge across the river Jamuna to link north-west Bangladesh with the rest of the country opened in July 1998.

Taxis
Taxis are few and far between in Dhaka; they are available at main hotels. Negotiate fares before undertaking a journey. A new radio-controlled taxi service Capital Cab Company has recently been established in Dhaka.

Capital Cab Company: Tel: +880 2 9352847-9

It is probably best to organise a car from the hotel for the 20 km trip from Zia International Airport, which costs around TK500.

A 10% service charge is usually added. Rickshaws and autorickshaws are available, but are not recommended for use at night. Autorickshaws should be metered, but often are not. Negotiate fares in advance.

Car hire
Parjatan's limousine transfer service is available between Zia International Airport and city points/hotels. For travel beyond the above pick-up and drop points, Parjatan has its rent-a-car service. Car hire is also available from the hotels. Driving is on the left-hand side of the road.

WATER
There are 8,433 km of navigable inland waterways, with regular passenger steamer services to the five main ports: Dhaka, Narayanganj, Chandpur, Barisal and Khulna. Passage should be booked well in advance.

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY
The mains supply is 220 volts AC at 50 Hz, with British-type 2 or 3 round pin plug fittings and bayonet lamp sockets. An international multi socket/plug adaptor is also useful.