Bangladesh

Local officials may ask you for ID.

Carry copies of the photo page in your passport and your Bangladeshi visa. Keep the originals somewhere safe and leave copies with friends or relatives in the UK.

Both men and women should dress modestly to avoid causing offence. Women should cover their shoulders and legs in public.

Ramadan in 2026 is expected to start on the 17/18 February and last until the third week of March.

Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims. Get advice on respecting Ramadan from your tour guide, hotel or business contacts.

You should:

• check opening hours of shops and restaurants
• follow local dress codes – clothing that does not meet local dress codes may cause more offence at this time, both for women and men
• be aware that fasting can cause tiredness, particularly during the later afternoon and early evening

If you’re a British national of Bangladeshi origin, the Bangladeshi government will consider you to be a Bangladeshi citizen, even if you:

• have never had a Bangladeshi passport
• were born outside of Bangladesh

This may limit the help the UK government can offer you. For more information on Bangladeshi nationality, check with the Bangladeshi High Commission in the UK.

The Bangladesh Police Expatriate Help Cell offers services to foreign nationals, including dual nationals.

You may need a liquor permit to drink alcohol in Bangladesh. A liquor permit allows you to drink alcohol in government-licensed bars. Check the requirements at your local district office and apply for a permit if necessary.

There are severe penalties for possessing and trafficking illegal drugs. Some drug-related offences are punishable by the death penalty or life imprisonment.

If you break local laws, you may get a prison sentence, served in a local prison. Delays and inefficiency in the judicial system can result in long detentions until court hearings eventually take place. Prison conditions are far below UK standards.

British nationals detained in Bangladesh have the right to request access to British High Commission officials.

Family law in Bangladesh is very different from UK law. Always check your legal position when, for example, child custody is an issue.

The British High Commission in Dhaka cannot help British nationals of Bangladeshi origin with land or property problems.

Same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Bangladesh.

Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.

The monsoon season runs from June to September and can cause widespread flooding and travel disruption.

If travelling, you should check:

• access routes
• weather updates from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department
• the advice of local authorities

There is a risk of tropical cyclones in Bangladesh. Check weather reports from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department and the World Meteorological Organization.

Around half of Bangladesh, including the cities of Moulvibazar and Sylhet, is in a high-risk earthquake zone. Other areas, including Dhaka, are at moderate risk. Tremors and earthquakes, usually minor ones, happen occasionally.

The US Federal Emergency Management Agency website has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake.

Bangladesh can be affected by tsunamis. In some cases the Bangladeshi government will issue tsunami warnings. Monitor local news and follow any advice given by local authorities.