Moving to Bangladesh

Bangladesh operates an online e-Visa system supplemented by Visa on Arrival for roughly 20 eligible nationalities at Dhaka, Chittagong, and Sylhet airports. Long-term residence is employer-driven: private sector hires need a BIDA work permit, NGO staff clear the NGO Affairs Bureau, and investors register through BIDA. Foreigners staying over 30 days must register with DIP and Special Branch.

Bangladesh's economy is driven by ready-made garments (over 80% of export earnings), remittances, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, jute, leather, shipbuilding, and a fast-growing IT and digital services sector. Dhaka concentrates the majority of professional roles; Chittagong is the primary port city and industrial center; Sylhet has strong diaspora links to the UK and Gulf. Foreign professionals are heavily concentrated in international development (World Bank, ADB, UN agencies, bilateral donors), NGOs (BRAC, Save the Children, Oxfam), multinational consumer companies (Unilever, Nestlé, British American Tobacco), garment buying offices (H&M, Inditex, Marks & Spencer), and increasingly the tech/IT sector.

Bangladesh's healthcare is deeply two-tiered. Private hospitals in Dhaka provide reasonable care for routine needs; serious or specialist conditions often require medical travel to Bangkok, Singapore, India (Apollo Chennai, AIIMS Delhi), or Western countries. Major private hospitals include Square Hospitals, United Hospital, Apollo Hospitals Dhaka (now Evercare), Labaid Specialized Hospital, and Popular Diagnostic Centre. Public hospitals like Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) provide subsidized or free care but are overcrowded and under-resourced. Most expats and senior professionals carry international health insurance (Allianz, Cigna Global, IMG) explicitly to access medical evacuation coverage. Consultation fees at private hospitals range from BDT 1,500-5,000; a private room costs BDT 4,000-15,000/night. Pharmacies are abundant — Lazz Pharma, Pharmacy Express, and Shwapno Pharmacy are reputable chains. Air quality in Dhaka is a serious concern from November through March, regularly ranking in the world's top 5 worst-polluted cities; PM2.5 levels frequently exceed 200-400.

Bangladesh's digital transformation has been led by mobile financial services (MFS). bKash alone has over 70 million accounts and is woven into daily commerce from street vendors to utility bills. Mobile internet from Grameenphone, Robi, and Banglalink covers most populated areas with 4G; 5G trials are underway. Fiber broadband from Link3, Amber IT, and Carnival Internet delivers 20-200 Mbps in major cities, though pricing and reliability vary. The 'Digital Bangladesh' initiative has digitized many government services, though in-person visits are still the norm for immigration and tax matters.

Bangladeshi culture is warm, hospitable, and deeply Bengali — language, food, music (especially Rabindra Sangeet and Nazrul Geeti), and a strong literary tradition are central to national identity. Hospitality is generous to the point of insistence: expect tea (cha) and sweets at any visit, and refusing food repeatedly is the norm before accepting. Meals are social, often involving multiple dishes of rice, dal, fish (hilsa is the national fish and a point of pride), and vegetable curries. Religion is predominantly Islam (approximately 90%), with significant Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian minorities; the constitution protects religious freedom. Ramadan transforms the daily rhythm with pre-dawn (sehri) and sunset (iftar) meals, and major festivals include Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Azha, Pohela Boishakh (Bengali New Year, April 14), Durga Puja (Hindu), and Victory Day (December 16) commemorating the 1971 Liberation War. Cricket is a national obsession; the Bangladesh national team's matches bring the country to a halt. Addas — long, wandering conversations over tea, often in the evening — are a cherished Bengali social institution.

• •Accept tea (cha) when offered. It is the default hospitality gesture across offices, homes, and meetings. Declining is awkward.
• •Greet elders with respect. 'Assalam-o-Alaikum' is the Muslim greeting; 'Namaskar' or 'Nomoshkar' for Hindus; 'Kemon achen?' (how are you?) works universally. Use respectful suffixes: -bhai (brother), -apa/-apu (sister), -khala/-chacha (aunt/uncle).
• •Dress modestly in public. Women typically wear shalwar kameez with a dupatta or salwar sets; Western clothing is acceptable in Gulshan, Banani, and Dhanmondi but modesty remains the norm.
• •Remove shoes before entering homes, mosques, temples, and many traditional settings. Look for shoes at the threshold as your cue.
• •Pohela Boishakh (April 14, Bengali New Year) is a major secular celebration. Wear red and white, attend Ramna Batamul festivities, and try traditional panta bhat (fermented rice) and ilish (hilsa).