TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Explore Bangladesh- the country full of both natural and man-made wonders. Here you will find the world's longest ocean beach, many historical monuments, the Sundarbans- the largest mangrove forest in the world, located in the Ganges delta, abundant wild life. A few of Bangladesh's numerous tourist attractions are listed below:
Bagerhat
The town of Bagerhat is an important historical center and site of several mosques including the famous Shait Gumbad Masjid, a mosque of 77 domes, built in 1549. Another historical site in Bagerhat is the holy tomb of Khan Jahan Ali, which is the major pilgrimage site in the area.
Cox's Bazar
The country's main beach resort, crowded with Bangladeshi holiday makers.
Dhaka
The bustling Bangladesh's capital city, a congested metropolis of over 12 million people with its streets filled  with over 500,000 colorful rickshaws. The city's major attraction is Lalbagh Fort, built in the 17-th century located in the Old City. Dhaka has several hundred mosques, including well-known Baitull Mukarram-National Mosque, the seven Domed Mosque (17th century), and the Star Mosque (18th century), as well as a few old hindu and buddhist temples, some of them built in the 11th century. The National Museum is north of the Old City in the old European zone known as Modern City. It has many displays of Hindu, Buddhist and Moghul historical sculptures and paintings. Dhaka Zoo and Botanical Garden contain and attractive collections of local and foreign species of animals and birds including the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger. The Institute of Arts and Crafts has a representative collection of folk-art and paintings by artists of Bangladesh.
Mainimati Ancient Ruins
An important centre of Buddhist culture from the in Medieval Ages, the buildings excavated here were made wholly of baked bricks. There are more than 50 scattered Buddhist sites in the area.
Somapuri Vihara
Built in the late 8th century in the northwest of Bangladesh, it is said to be the second largest single Buddhist monastery south of the Himalayas. Somapuri Vihara is the most impressive archaeological site in Bangladesh, and covers some 11 hectares (27 acres). The monastery's recessed walls are embellished with well-preserved terracotta bas-reliefs, and a small museum houses a representative display of the domestic and religious objects found during excavations.
Sundarbans National Park
The Sundarbans is the largest mangrove forest in the world, stretching over 80km (50miles) into the Gangs delta. The area is has a wide range of fauna including spotted deer, crocodiles, snakes, river dolphins and over 400 mignificent Bengal tigers. You can organise a guided tour of the region from Dhaka, Mongla or Khulna. Guided tours to Sundarbans are available from the cities of Dhaka, Mongla or Khulna.

TRAVEL TIPS

When To Go
The best season to travel to Bangladesh is from October to February, when the weather is dry and fresh. Avoid traveling to Bangladesh during the rainy and extremely humid monsoon season (June through October). Quite often local transport and communications get seriously affected and thousands of people displaced during this time.
Personal Safety and Security
There is a high threat from terrorism in Bangladesh. The Chittagong Hill Tracts region and the Bramanbaria district close to the border with India are the sites of ongoing civil unrest and should be avoided due to the risk of being caught up in clashes between rival tribal groups, settlers and the military. If you propose to visit the Chittagong Hill Tracts you are required to give the Bangladeshi authorities seven days’ notice of your travel plans. Western interests or western nationals could become the targets for retaliatory attacks or kidnapping.
You should avoid all rallies, demonstrations and large gatherings as there is the potential for violence.
Armed robbery, pickpocketing, and purse snatching are very real threats day or night in all areas. Do not carry a large amount of money with you or wear jewellery in the street. Passengers using ' cycle rickshaws'' or travelling alone in taxis are particularly vulnerable, especially at night. If travelling alone, try to avoid using public transport. If you need to, book taxis by telephone, but you should exercise caution.
Beware of touts offering to carry your bags – many are thieves. Arrange pick-up transport in advance with your hotel/colleagues/friends. Taxis, including those serving the airport, often overcharge and drivers have been known to rob passengers. Passport theft at Dhaka and Sylhet airports is common. Ensure your documents and any valuables are accounted for and secure before you leave the airport.
Abduction of children and businessmen for ransom is increasing, although this does not appear to be particularly directed at foreigners. Officials sometimes abuse their authority.  You should be accompanied when visiting police stations.
Beaches are not considered entirely safe at night
If you intend to drive then you should hold an international driving licence. Rental cars with drivers and normal taxis are the preferred means of transportation.  The Bangladesh road network is in poor condition, and road safety is also very poor. Traffic is heavy and chaotic in urban areas and the streets of large cities are extremely congested with buses, trucks, cars, baby taxis, rickshaws and pedestrians. Drivers of larger vehicles expect to be given right of way, and this added together with speeding, dangerous and aggressive overtaking, and sudden manoeuvres without indication, mean that road accidents are common in Bangladesh.  Driving at night is especially dangerous as many vehicles are unlit, or travel on full-beam headlights, and streetlights are rare even in cities. Travel between towns after dark, by train, bus or ferry, is also risky because of banditry. 
Bangladesh has an extensive but old rail network.  Rail travel in Bangladesh is generally slow.  There are occasional derailments and other incidents, which can result in injuries and deaths. On some trains first class compartments may be lockable.  You should ensure that the compartment door is locked if travelling overnight. 
River and sea ferries are often dangerously overcrowded. Capsizing is common.  There are frequent acts of piracy in and around Bangladeshi waters.
Local Laws
Bangladesh is a Muslim country. You should respect local customs and sensitivities at all times, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas. Women should cover their shoulders and wear long skirts or trousers. You should dress modestly to avoid giving offence. Same sex relations are illegal. There are severe penalties for possession and trafficking of illegal drugs.  Some drugs-related offences are punishable by the death penalty or life imprisonment.
You should carry a photocopy of the data page and Bangladeshi visa from your passport at all times, plus copies of other important travel documents, so that, if questioned by local officials, proof of identity is readily available. These should be kept separately from the originals, and copies left with friends or relatives in your home country.
Entry Requirements
Visas are required to enter Bangladesh. For detailed visa requirements check the list of Embassies of Bangladesh to the World or Embassies of Other Nations to Bangladesh. There are increased financial penalties for overstaying on your visa as well as the possibility of a case being charged (under the Foreigners Act 1946) against those who overstay for more than 90 days. You can also check out the Bangladesh official immigration authorities' web site. If you intend to use Dhaka as a hub from which to visit other countries in the region, ensure you obtain a multiple entry visa.
Health
It is strongly recommended that you take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  
Medical facilities in Bangladesh are poor. Routine tests and X-rays are unreliable.   
There is malaria and dengue fever in Bangladesh. Malaria is usually restricted to specific rural areas, especially the Chittagong Hill Tracts. But dengue fever is common in towns, including Dhaka. Malaria can occur despite appropriate prevention, and therefore you should promptly seek medical care in the event of a fever or flu-like illness in the first year following your return from travelling to a malaria risk country.
The Government of Bangladesh has confirmed the detection of the Avian Influenza virus (Bird Flu) in the following 11 districts: Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayangonj, Tangail, Jamalpur Jessore, Noakhali, Gaibandha, Magura, Rajbari, and Nilfamari. No human infections or deaths have been reported.
 Check out our page for other general travel health tips.
Money
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.  ATMs are available in Dhaka, Chittagong, Bogra, Sylhet, Narayanganj and Khulna. Western Union has offices in Dhaka and agents in towns across Bangladesh.
General Travel Tips
Many Bangladeshis only understand limited English such as basic affirmatives, negatives, and some numbers. Learning a few Bengali words ahead of your trip will prove very useful.
"Aarong" is one of the largest and most popular handicraft and clothing outlets with stores in Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet and Khulna. It's a great place for souvenirs at fixed prices.
Nightlife is Bangladesh in nearly non-existent. Being a Muslim country, alcohol is frowned upon and found mostly in the international clubs and pricier restaurants in Dhaka and in some restaurants in tourist centers like Cox's Bazar.

BRIEF HISTORY

Europeans began to set up trading posts in the area of Bangladesh in the 16th century; eventually the British came to dominate the region and it became part of British India. In 1947, West Pakistan and East Bengal (both primarily Muslim) separated from India (largely Hindu) and jointly became the new country of Pakistan. East Bengal became East Pakistan in 1955, but the awkward arrangement of a two-part country with its territorial units separated by 1,600 km left the Bengalis marginalized and dissatisfied. Bangladesh came into existence in 1971 when Bengali East Pakistan seceded from its union with West Pakistan. About a third of this extremely poor country floods annually during the monsoon rainy season, hampering economic development.

GEOGRAPHY

Area: total: 144,000 sq km; land: 133,910 sq km, water: 10,090 sq km.
Climate: tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October).
Terrain: mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast.
Natural Resources: natural gas, arable land, timber, coal.
Natural Hazards: droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely inundated during the summer monsoon season.
Environmental Problems: many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; water-borne diseases prevalent in surface water; water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results from the use of commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by naturally occurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; severe overpopulation.

PEOPLE

Population: 150,000,000.
Major Ethnic Groups: Bengali 98%, other 2%.
Religions: Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1%.

GOVERNMENT

Type: parliamentary democracy (People's Republic of Bangladesh).
Capital City: Dhaka.
Time Difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time). Check current time.
National Holiday: Independence Day, 26 March (1971); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh.

ECONOMY

Despite sustained domestic and international efforts to improve economic and demographic prospects, Bangladesh remains a poor, overpopulated, and inefficiently-governed nation. Although more than half of GDP is generated through the service sector, nearly two-thirds of Bangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector, with rice as the single-most-important product. Major impediments to growth include frequent cyclones and floods, inefficient state-owned enterprises, inadequate port facilities, a rapidly growing labor force that cannot be absorbed by agriculture, delays in exploiting energy resources (natural gas), insufficient power supplies, and slow implementation of economic reforms. Reform is stalled in many instances by political infighting and corruption at all levels of government. Opposition from the bureaucracy, public sector unions, and other vested interest groups also have blocked progress. The BNP government, led by Prime Minister Khaleda ZIA, has the parliamentary strength to push through needed reforms, but the party's political will to do so has been lacking in key areas. On an encouraging note, growth has been a steady 5-6% for the past several years.
Unemployment Rate: 2.5%.
Agriculture Products: rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, tobacco, pulses, oilseeds, spices, fruit; beef, milk, poultry.
Major Industries: cotton textiles, jute, garments, tea processing, paper newsprint, cement, chemical fertilizer, light engineering, sugar.
Export Commodities: garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood.
Export Partners: US 23.6%, Germany 13.5%, UK 9.4%, France 6.4%.
Import Commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles, foodstuffs, petroleum products, cement.
Import Partners: India 14.1%, China 13.5%, Kuwait 8.5%, Singapore 6.2%, Japan 4.1%, Hong Kong 4.1%.
Currency: taka (BDT). Check current rate of exchange.