Asia and Oceania

Bangladesh
Still current at: 25 November 2009 Updated: 17 November 2009

This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments to the Summary (possible protests on 19 November). The overall level of the advice has not changed.

(see travel advice legal disclaimer)

Travel advice for this country

General

Insurance

We recommend that you take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance (including medical evacuation) before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See travel insurance.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas then this is how we can help.

Consular registration

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.

Consular Assistance

Up to 75,000 British nationals visit Bangladesh every year. The main types of incidents for which British nationals require consular assistance in Bangladesh are for forced marriages and the issuing of passports.

British nationals of Bangladeshi origin often seek consular assistance with land or property ownership disputes. The British High Commission has no authority to intervene on your behalf with land/property problems and can only provide you with a list of local lawyers.

In accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations to which Bangladesh is a signatory, a British national under detention in Bangladesh has a right to request that the British High Commission be notified regarding his or her situation and gain access to them. In most circumstances this right does not extend to Dual Nationals.

Money

The currency in Bangladesh is Taka. Travellers' cheques can be cashed at banks and at the airports. Credit cards should be used with due caution as there is the potential for fraud.

Standard Chartered Bank has ATMs in Dhaka, Chittagong, Bogra, Sylhet, Narayanganj and Khulna. HSBC has ATMs in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet. Some of the five-star hotels in Dhaka have ATM facilities. UK cash point cards are accepted. Western Union has offices in Dhaka and agents in towns/cities across Bangladesh where money can be sent from the UK.

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Contacts

Bangladesh, Dhaka, British High Commission

Address:

British High Commission
United Nations Road
Baridhara
Dhaka 1212
Postal address:
P O Box 6079
Dhaka 1212

Telephone:

(880) (2) 882 2705 – 9 (five lines)
(880) (821) 724694, 724695,720331,
(880) 1713143015, 1730303626
(880) 1713095674 (Sylhet Office)
(8802) 8822705-9 (Ext-2317 or 2405) (Pension enquiries)
(880) 1713365672 (Duty Officer)

The Switchboard is open from 0800 hours to 1700 hours Sunday to Wednesday and 0800 hours to 1600 hours on Thursday

Mobile: +880 1713 143 015 & 1730 303 626 (Consular Section)
(880) 1713365672 (Duty Officer)
(880) (2) 8822705-9 (Ext-2317 or 2405) (Pension enquiries)

Sylhet Office:
Telephone: +880 821 724694-5 (Two lines) & 720331
Mobile: +880 1713 095 674

Fax:

(880) (2) 882 3437 Chancery/Management
(880) (2) 882 3666 Immigration Section
880) (2) 988 2819, + (880) (2) 882 3437 Consular
(880) (2) 881 6135
(880) (821) 720070 (Sylhet, Consular Office)

Email: consular.bangladesh@fconet.fco.gov.uk

Email: Dhaka.Press@fco.gov.uk

Email: Dhaka.Immigration@fco.gov.uk

Email: Dhaka.Commercial@fco.gov.uk

Email: Dhaka.Chancery@fco.gov.uk

Email: Dhaka.Visa@fco.gov.uk

Email: DhakaHR@fco.gov.uk

Email: Pension.Enquiries-Dhaka@fco.gov.uk

Office hours:

Sun-Wed: 1500 - 2215, Thurs: 1500 - 2100 (GMT)

Sun-Wed: 0800 - 1600, Thurs: 0800 - 1400 (Local)

Consular Hours:
Sun-Wed: 1530 - 2030 (GMT)
0830 - 1330 (Local)

For telephone enquiries
Sun-Wed: 1500-2215 (GMT)
0800-1515 (Local)