Bangladesh Country & Tourist Information

Location
South Asia.

Area
147,570 sq km (56,977 sq miles).

Population
152.6 million (UN, 2005).

Population Density
1034.1 per sq km.

Capital
Dhaka.
Population: 11,560,000 (2003).

Government
Republic. Gained independence from Pakistan in 1971.
Head of State:
Head of Government: Recent history:

Language
The official language is Bengali (Bangla). English is widely spoken, especially in government and commercial circles. Tribal dialects are also spoken.

Religion
88% Muslim, 10% Hindus and 2% Buddhist and Christian minorities. Religion is the main influence on attitudes and behavior. Since 1988, Islam has been the official state religion.

Time
GMT + 6.

Electricity
220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are of the British 5- and 15-amp, two- or three-pin (round) type.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia since 2001.

Head of State
President Iajuddin Ahmed since 2002.

Telephone
Country code: 880. Public telephone booths are located at the principal marketplaces and in post offices in the main towns.

Mobile Telephone
Coverage is limited to main 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).

Media
The main broadcast media in Bangladesh, Radio Bangladesh and Bangladesh Television, are state-owned and favorable to the Government. Little coverage is given to the political opposition, except in the run-up to general elections when a caretaker Government takes control. Although Bangladesh Television remains the country’s sole terrestrial TV channel, private satellite-delivered TV stations have established a presence. The constitution guarantees press freedom, but journalists are subject to regular harassment from the police and political activists. Bangladeshi newspapers are diverse, outspoken and privately owned. English-language titles appeal mainly to the educated urban elite. The authorities sometimes withdraw foreign publications from circulation over articles or images considered malicious or offensive.


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 some daily English-language papers, the most popular being the Bangladesh Observer, followed by the Daily Star and the New Nation.
• The main English-language weeklies include Holiday.
• The main Bengali dailies are Dainik Ittefaq and Dainik Jugantor.
• Almost all these newspapers are published in Dhaka and circulated throughout the country.

Radio
• Betar-Radio Bangladesh is Government-run.
• Radio Metrowave is a commercial, music and news station aimed at younger listeners in Dhaka.
• The BBC World Service is available on FM in Dhaka.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
20 Jan Islamic New Year.
21 Feb International Mother Language Day.
26 Mar Independence Day.
31 Mar Eid-e-Milad-un Nabi (Birth of the Prophet).
14 Apr Bangla New Year.
1 May Labor Day.
2 May Buddha Purnima.  
10/11 Aug Shab-e Barat (Ascension of the Prophet).
2 Oct Durga Puja (Dashami).
20 Oct Shab e-Qadr (Evening of Destiny).
13 Oct (3 days) Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
7 Nov National Revolution Day.
16 Dec Victory Day (Bijoy Dibosh).
20 Dec (3 days) Eid ul-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
10 Jan Islamic New Year.
21 Feb International Mother Language Day.
20 Mar Eid-e-Milad-un Nabi (Birth of the Prophet).
26 Mar Independence Day.
14 Apr Bangla New Year.
1 May Labor Day.
2 May Buddha Purnima.  
30 Jul Shab-e Barat (Ascension of the Prophet).
2 Oct Durga Puja (Dashami).
20 Oct Shab e-Qadr (Evening of Destiny). 
2 Oct (3 days) Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
7 Nov National Revolution Day.
9 Dec (3 days) Eid ul-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
16 Dec Victory Day (Bijoy Dibosh).
29 Dec Islamic New Year.

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 al-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 al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid ul-Azha may last anything from two to 10 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.

Contact Information:

Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (National Tourism Organization)
233 Airport Road, Tejgoan, Dhaka-1215, Bangladesh
Tel: (2) 811 7855-9.
Website: www.bangladeshtourism.org

Bangladesh High Commission in the UK
28 Queen’s Gate, London SW7 5JA, UK
Tel: (020) 7584 0081.
Website: www.bangladeshhighcommission.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1730; Mon-Thurs 1000-1300 and 1500-1630, Fri 1030-1245 and 1500-1630 (consular office).

Bangladesh Embassy in the USA
3510 International Drive, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 244 0183.
Website: www.bangladoot.org


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