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Bangladesh Pre-departure Information and Personal Safety & Security Guidance for Visitors Before You Leave Visa Procedures It is strongly suggested that visitors to Bangladesh obtain the correct visa before departing their home/base country. This may require an invitation letter from Bangladesh Country Office (BdCO), which can be available upon request for short term visits as well as a letter of invitation from the event organizers (please contact [email protected] to request these documents). Visitors who wish to get a visa in advance should request the correct visa from the Bangladesh embassy/High Commission and doublecheck it when they get their passport back to make sure it is the correct visa. Each visitor should obtain a proper visa upon receiving an attestation/approval of your appointment by the concerned authority/ministry. It is always suggested that visitors come with a valid visa and depart before the visa terminates. Overstaying may result in a fine and other penalties. Recommended Visa for event participants: T – Visa (Tourist Visa): For less than 02 months staying in Bangladesh Visa on Arrival (VoA) is available (generally for 15 days but maximum for 30 days) for all nationals (including Europeans and Americans) except for some visa restricted countries (e.g. Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq, etc.). The VoA fee is currently USD$51 (subject to change). African nationals are facing challenges getting VoA and are requested to contact [email protected] at least 10 business days prior to visiting Bangladesh so that our contacts in country can arrange VoA clearance. IMPORTANT: Travelers wishing to receive Visa on Arrival may need to submit fees in USD/Euros/Pounds Sterling and show that they have a minimum of $500USD or a credit card with them. Please contact your country’s embassy in Dhaka to better understand the visa requirements. Lodging and Accommodation The Asia Regional Knowledge Sharing Meeting and the TOPS Theory of Change Training will be held at the Westin Dhaka (Main Gulshan Avenue, Plot-01, Road 45, Gulshan-2, Dhaka, 1212). A limited number of rooms are available for participants at the negotiated rate of $200/night, so please book your rooms as soon as possible if you plan to stay at this venue by calling Amin (Md. Al-Amin) at 880.2.989.1988 or e-mailing him at [email protected] and stating that you would like to book a room for the “Asia Regional Knowledge Sharing Meeting”. Please contact the hotel as soon as possible to assure that you receive the discounted rate. Several other hotels are located near the Westin Dhaka, including: Six Seasons Hotel o Address: House #19, Road No. 96, Gulshan-2, Dhaka-1212 o Telephone: 88-02-9840789-92 o E-mail: [email protected] Amari Dhaka o Address: 47, Road #41, Gulshan-2, Dhaka-1212 o Telephone: 88-02-9841951 Hotel Sarina o Address: Plot #27, Road #17, Banani, Dhaka o Telephone: 88-02-9821111 Reserving a Shuttle for Airport Pick-up The Westin Dhaka offers hotel shuttle service for a fee of $18 USD. Shuttle reservations can be requested by calling the hotel at 88-02-9891988 prior to arrival. Hotel and office vehicles use Terminal-1 for incoming visitors. Please confirm pick-up service before your flight. Insurance and Medical All visitors should obtain adequate travel and medical insurance before traveling. It is advisable to have coverage for unexpected losses such as cancelled flights, stolen cash, cards, passport or luggage. Additionally, while most medications are available in Bangladesh, it is recommended that you bring any required prescribed medications, along with copies of the prescriptions, as well as contact lenses and eye glasses. Security Situation The People’s Republic of Bangladesh is a small country with nearly 160 million people. It is located in the northeastern part of South Asia on the Bay of Bengal. It is surrounded on three sides by India and shares a small border with Myanmar in the southeast. The majority (86%) of people in Bangladesh are Muslims, although Hindus, Christians and a small number of Buddhists live throughout the country. There is a sizable indigenous population. Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with more than 1,000 people per square kilometer on average. Most visits to Bangladesh are trouble-free. However, visitors should be aware of several potential risks. Mugging and Purse/Bag Snatching. Mugging or purse/bag snatching, especially after dark, in areas frequented by foreigners occurs occasionally. The perpetrators often work in pairs on motorcycles, three-wheelers or cars and vans. Passengers using rickshaws and three-wheelers are vulnerable, as well as pedestrians, especially women and in particular at night. The modus operandi is for the miscreants to attempt to grab hand bags or day packs as they pass by in a car or on a motorbike. The most serious injuries have occurred where the victims is unable or unwilling to let go off their bag and is dragged of a rickshaw or into the road. Therefore, visitors are advised to avoid using rickshaws and baby taxis, particularly at night. If you use a rickshaw, either do not carry a bag or place it between your feet in such a way that, if it is grabbed, you will not be dragged off the rickshaw. Vehicle Accidents. Car accidents are a danger—especially at night. Avoid travel outside of cities and towns after dark (except airport transfers) to minimize the risk of vehicle borne accidents. Drivers should try to depart early enough to reach their destination before dark. A/C buses and ferries are safe for travel. Political Situation. The political situation in Bangladesh was volatile during the 2nd half of 2013 and continued until mid-January 2014. Despite serious protests that included hartals and blockade activities countrywide, the National Parliament Election was held on 5th January as per the amended constitution. Most of these days were frequented with violence which affected at least 500 people, including law enforcement agency representatives and members of the general public. As highways and rail tracks were under severe threat and several incidents of lethal sabotage were reported, inter-district travel was risky. Although the political situation in Bangladesh has improved, there is a risk that the situation may turn to volatile anytime. Diplomatic Zone. Usually the diplomatic zone (Gulshan/Baridhara) is trouble-free and has very limited incidents of violence. Therefore, you will most likely have no problem moving around the Gulshan/Baridhara areas, but we strongly advise that you do not attempt to leave the diplomatic zone when there is a hartal. Climate and Seismic Activity The months of March to June are hot and humid with temperatures as high as 40° Celsius (104° F) and as low as 25° Celsius (77° F). Rainfall is common throughout the year, but is most common in the monsoon season (June to October). Bangladesh is located in an active seismic zone and has relatively frequent earthquakes of magnitude 4 to 5 on the Richter scale. Once You Arrive Local Telecommunications Network You can purchase a local SIM card (with 3G facilities) to use with a mobile phone for about $3 USD by providing a copy of your passport and two photographs. Very few pay phone booths exist in the country. Sometimes airport security guards can provide you with phone call service from their mobile phones, but they may charge you $1.50-2.00 USD. Clothing and Attire Bangladeshi people have unique dress preferences. Bangladeshi men wear Panjabi on religious and cultural occasions; Lungi is casual wear and shirt-pants are worn on formal occasion. Women are encouraged to dress modestly—such as a formal or casual dress that is light and loose fitting, fully covers the legs, and has half or full sleeves. Popular clothing for women in Bangladesh include a Shari and shalwar kameez—a pair of light, loose, pleated trousers tapering to a tight fit around the ankles paired with a long, loose-fitting shirt or tunic. Wearing a long dress or loose long pants and a shirt, along with a scarf when traveling in rural areas, is regarded as appropriate for women. Wearing shorts is not encouraged outside the home for either men or women. Greetings While meeting others, handshakes are common between men, but are not seen as an acceptable gesture between members of the opposite sex. Exchange of greetings is usually done between Muslim people (regardless of sex) by saying “Assalam-alikum,” to which the appropriate reply is, “Aalikumassalam.” Bengalis hold this form of greeting in high esteem. Printing and Internet A business center is available in the hotel with printing, photocopy and internet capability. One photocopy costs Tk. 25. Banking and Currency Banks are open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 pm (transaction hours), Sunday to Thursday. Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), from which local currency can be withdrawn, operate 24 hours in various locations around the city, including an ATM in the Dhaka Westin. The local currency is the TAKA. The bank exchange rate is approximately US$1 = BDT 77.00, while the rate at money changers is approximately US$1=BDT 78.50. The Westin Dhaka has an exchange rate of US$1 = BDT 78 to BDT 80. The Westin Dhaka accepts Visa, Mastercard and American Express for payment. Restaurants In Dhaka city, especially in the Gulshan and Banani areas, a good range of restaurants including Chinese, Indian, Thai, Korean, Japanese, Italian and Bangladeshi food are there and within walking distances. For larger groups or parties, it is suggested to book tables in advance. Telephone numbers and addresses of these restaurants are available at the hotel. Restaurants near the Westin Dhaka include: Istanbul Turkish Restaurant—a Turkish restaurant that is a 10 minute walk from the hotel. Topkapi—a restaurant across the street from the Westin Dhaka that has Turkish and South Asian cuisine. New King Kitchen—a Chinese restaurant featuring Cantonese and Sichuan food that is a 15 minutes walk from the hotel. Attractions Dhaka offers visitors a number of attractions. A few that are not too far from the hotel include: Lalbagh Fort—An incomplete 17th century Mughal fort and its gardens. Ahsan Manzil—The official residential palace and seat of the Dhaka Nawab family situated along the Buriganga River. Bangladesh National Museum—A museum dedicated to Bangladeshi history and culture. Health and Medical Care Medical facilities in Bangladesh do not meet Western standards, although care for basic illness and ailments within Dhaka is generally adequate (facilities outside Dhaka are generally unsafe and unsanitary). Travelers must have suitable insurance and be prepared to travel outside Bangladesh for treatment. If you do fall ill while in Dhaka, general practitioners may be seen through the ICDDRB travelers’ clinic in Mohakhali and the American International School at Baridhara. Emergency care and stabilization of serious conditions can be done through Apollo Hospital in Bashundhara and United Hospital in Gulshan. Dengue Fever is found in Bangladesh, especially in summer months and rainy season. The former is usually restricted to specific rural areas, but the later is common in towns, including Dhaka. Using mosquito net or mosquito repellant cream is the best protection measure. Tap Water is not safe to drink, so be sure the water you are drinking is bottled. You should use bottled water even for brushing your the teeth. Road Safety and Transport Road safety is not up-to-the-mark. Lethal crashes are often caused by poor road conditions, speeding, dangerous and aggressive passing, sudden maneuvers without signaling, vehicles traveling in the wrong lane or against the flow of traffic, and by vehicles entering junctions and main roads without warning. In Dhaka, traffic congestion means that travel times within the city vary greatly. It can take an hour or even up to two hours to reach the city center where government offices are located. Visitors are expected to allocate plenty of time to reach appointments, flights, etc. Taxi services tend to be unsafe for foreigners. Please try to avoid using them. However, if you do need to use a taxi, we recommend contacting Toma (Tel. 01755667070) or Trust (Tel. 01755667171) cab companies by phone to get a taxi safely. The charge for taxi service from the airport to the hotel is estimated at BDT 400.00 to BDT 600.00. Taking vehicle service from hotel is a safe option for you. Recently, safe taxi cab services have been introduced in Dhaka. If you want to use a safe taxi, ask the hotel reception desk. Security Contact Any conference participant who experiences a security problem while in Bangladesh can contact Mr. Mahmudul Hassan, Senior Manager, Safety & Security, Save the Children in Bangladesh for support in resolving security issues (01713450740). Acknowledgement: Some information in this document was adapted from the Pre-Departure Information form of Save the Children International.