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Country Guide > Indian Subcontinent > Bangladesh | |
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Travel - Internal Air Internal services are operated by Aero Bengal Airlines, Air Parabat, Bengal Airlift LTD, Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BG) and GMG Airlines. Regular flights are run between Dhaka and several other main towns. These are cheap, and most routes are served at least two or three times a week. Airline buses connect with terminals. Domestic airports These include Barisal, Cox’s Bazar, Ishwdi, Jessore, Rajshahi and Saidpur. Departure tax Tk25. Sea/River The country has about 8433km (5240 miles) of navigable waterways and water transport, if a little slow, is the least expensive method of getting around Bangladesh. Ferries operate between southern coastal ports and the Ganges River delta, where there are five major river ports: Barisal, Chandpur, Dhaka, Khulna and Narayanganj. Passages should be booked well in advance; for details, contact local port authorities. River services are operated by the Bangladesh Inland Waterway Transport Corporation (BIWTC), who run ‘Rocket’ ferries and launches on a number of routes. A ferry operates from Dhaka to Khulna four times a week (travel time – 28 hours). Ferries can often be dangerously overcrowded. The most recent incident was in February 2005 when 150 people drowned near Dhaka. In the past, these incidents have incurred greater casualties. Rail A rail system of approximately 2800km (1740 miles) connects major towns, with broad gauge in the west of the country and narrow gauge in the east. A slow but efficient network, operated by Bangladesh Railway, is limited by the geography of the country, but river ferries (see above) provide through links. Services are being upgraded. However, trains still occasionally derail and passengers have been injured. The main line is Dhaka–Chittagong, with several daily trains, some of which have air-conditioned cars. An inter-city express service is available between main towns. For details, contact the Embassy or High Commission for the People’s Republic of Bangladesh (see Contact Addresses section). Road There are approximately 6240km (3877 miles) of roads, of which 3840km (2386 miles) are paved. Road safety is poor. Traffic is heavy and chaotic in urban areas. There are frequent and often lethal crashes caused by speeding, dangerous and aggressive overtaking, sudden manoeuvres, etc. Vehicles and roads are badly maintained and often unlit; drivers, if in lit vehicles, will often have the light full-beam. In addition to all this, banditry is a problem after dark. It is possible to reach virtually everywhere by road, but given the geography of the country, with frequent ferry crossings being a necessity, together with the poor quality of many of the roads, road travel can be very slow. Traffic drives on the left. Bus: The Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) provides a countrywide network of bus services. All major towns are served; fares are generally low. Taxi: Generally available at airports and major hotels. Fares should always be agreed upon before travelling. Car hire: Cars may be hired at Dhaka airport, the Bangladesh Tourism Corporation Office or from the major hotels. However, in the major cities, it is relatively easy and inexpensive to hire chauffeur-driven cars. Documentation: International Driving Permit required. Urban There are bus services, which are usually very crowded and unreliable, in Dhaka, provided by the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation. The Central Bus Station is on Station Road (Fulbaria); there are also several other terminals, which are, in general, for long-distance services. Buses and bus stations do not generally have signs in English. There are also an estimated 10,000 independent ‘auto-rickshaw’ 3-wheeler taxis (avoid night-time use). Conventional taxis are also available. Travel times The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Dhaka to other major cities/towns in Bangladesh.
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