Local Laws

You must obey all laws in Bangladesh.

• If you violate them, even without knowing you did, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.
• Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Bangladesh are severe, including long jail sentences and heavy fines, or death.
• You may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you or if you take pictures of certain buildings.
• Driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail.
• Some laws are also prosecutable in the U.S., regardless of local law. For examples, see our website on crimes against minors abroad and the Department of Justice website.

Arrest: If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. See our webpage for further information.

Customs and Currency:

• Bangladesh customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation or export of items such as currency, household appliances, alcohol, cigarettes, and weapons.
• Bangladesh does not allow the exchange of local currency (Bangladesh taka) for US dollars (cash and traveler’s checks), unless the customer has a ticket for travel outside of Bangladesh.
• Contact the Bangladeshi Embassy or Consulates for specific information regarding customs requirements. Please see our Customs Information.

Dual Nationality: U.S. citizens holding both U.S. and Bangladeshi citizenship may not be immediately recognized as U.S. citizens by the local authorities and may initially be treated solely as Bangladeshi citizens.

Forced Marriage: A marriage must be entered into with the full and free consent of both individuals. If a U.S. citizen is being forced into a marriage against his or her will, help and advice from the Embassy are available. Please refer to the U.S. Embassy’s information on forced marriage. All travelers to Bangladesh, including Bangladeshi citizens, should maintain possession of their passports and return plane tickets to ensure independence to travel.

Property Disputes:

• Land disputes are common in Bangladesh and are extremely difficult to resolve through legal channels.
• The U.S. Embassy cannot protect personal property and cannot take sides in a legal dispute.
• U.S. citizens wishing to purchase property should be aware of the risks, including not being physically present to oversee property.
• Involvement in a property dispute may pose dangers such as lengthy court disputes to being threatened, injured, or murdered by hired thugs. Those involved in a court dispute run the risk of having cases filed against them, and they may be arrested and jailed.

Natural Disasters:

• Heavy flooding occurs during the monsoon season (June to October) and 30 percent of the country may be under water.
• Cyclones occur most frequently in May through October, with storm surges of up to 10 meters.
• Bangladesh is one of the most hard-hit countries in the world for tornados.
• Earthquakes generally occur in the northern and eastern parts of Bangladesh, but the potential for catastrophic earthquakes anywhere in the country is ever-present.

Women Travelers: If you are a woman traveling abroad, please review our travel tips for Women Travelers.

Students: See our Students Abroad page and FBI travel tips.

Faith-Based Travelers: See Department of State’s International Religious Freedom report for further information.

LGBTI Travelers: Consensual same-sex sexual activity is criminalized in Bangladesh and penalties include up to life imprisonment. See State Department’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for more detailed information. For further information on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) travel, please read our LGBTI Travel Information page.

Persons with Mobility Issues: Public transportation, sidewalks, many buildings, and public areas are not wheelchair accessible.