Dear all:

Greetings!

We would like to share some important information before you set off on your trip. Please read the entire document carefully as it contains important details on the followings:

• Information about Bangladesh and visa procedures

• Useful information for your stay

• Getting around its capital city, Dhaka

• Emergency contact information

We look forward to seeing you here!

Thank you.

Best

Convention Steering Committee

Dhaka, Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a developing country with lots of development potentials and challenges. The country gained its independence in 1971 after a war of liberation from Pakistan in which 3 million Bangladeshis died. The country was left economically devastated. The natural disaster in 1974 and famine received world attention. Since 1991, Bangladesh has had a democratic form of government but without protection of basic rights; elites control major political parties. Government services are administered through centralised bureaucracies that have expanded in outreach with large donor support but they have lagged in providing quality services. Administratively, the country is divided into seven divisions, which are subdivided into sixty-four districts; 481 Upazilas (Sub-districts) and 4,498 Unions (the lowest administrative tier).

Bangladesh is religiously and ethnically a homogeneous country, with Bengalis comprising 98 per cent of the population. The majority of Bangladeshis (about 90 per cent) are Muslims, and a small number of Hindus, Christians and Buddhists are also in the country. About thirty five smaller groups of indigenous people covering about two per cent of the total population of the country have been living in different pockets of the hilly zones and some areas of the plain-lands.

The country has maintained a steady growth rate over the past years. The recently released MDG progress report[1] suggests that Bangladesh has been convincingly moving towards achieving some MDGs. The report suggests that the country is on its way to achieve targeted prevalence of poverty by 2015, however, rising inequality is offsetting some of the gains in poverty reduction, the report noted. It further observed that there are pockets of high prevalence of poverty and regional variation in poverty.

[1] GoB, 2010, The Millennium Development Goals: Bangladesh Progress Report 2009

We advice that you travel to Bangladesh with visa stamped in your passport. If you don’t have a Bangladeshi embassy or consulate in your country, please contact us. For visa related matter or to obtain a request letter for your visa please contact- Mr. Razaul Karim Shopon, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , (+88) 0171 303 1322. However, Information of Bangladeshi visa is available online http://www.immi.gov.bd

Pick up transportation to and from the Airport to the Convention Centre and Hotel will be arranged by the hotel respectively. In this case, we suggest you to contact them for reservation as soon as possible.

Please find details in accommodation.

Spicy/non spicy, local and continental dish normally serves for city hikers in hotels, restaurants, convention and other places. The convention venue does not have any bar (alcoholic beverages) service.

Fire Service Office at Dhaka- Tel: 7748333; Mobile: 01730002250

Police Station at Dhaka- Tel: 7745411

Insect repellent normally used for mosquito protection. You may wish to carry your own arrangements with you.

If you are planning to stay in Bangladesh beyond the Convention, we suggest you to plan well in advance.

The city is considered very crowded with heavy traffic, also requested not to travelling alone, use common sense and be cautious at night or in remote places. You can take the local mini-buses from the stand or taxis/CNGs from your hotel venue.

The central business area of Dhaka city is 10-15 Km from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and takes approximately an hour to reach by car. A taxi costs approximately 500 (BDT).

Decimal currency is used in Bangladesh with the Taka as the basic unit (100 paisa = Tk. 1). Notes come in Tk. 1000, Tk. 500, Tk. 100, Tk. 50, Tk. 20, Tk. 10, Tk. 5 Tk. 2 and Tk. 1 while coins (paisa) come in 25 paisa, 50 paisa, Tk. 1 and Tk. 5 denominations.

The currency exchange rate is £1 = Tk. 120. Exchange facilities are available in most banks, hotels and airports and operate normal business hours. In order to avoid hasseles you should change either at the airport or hotel. Credit cards are accepted at high end restaurants and shops, the most widely used cards are Visa and MasterCard.

General office hours are 09:00 – 17:00, Sunday through Thursday. Post Offices also operate at these hours. Banks transactions are normally available from 10:00 to 16:00; however, a few branches operate evening banking from 18:00 to 20:00.

December to February is winter and the temperature range is 10°C to 25°C. In summer, temperature varies from 25°C to 35°C. To get the latest weather update, please visit one of your favourite’s weather related website or the following link: http://www.weather.com/weather/today/Dhaka+Bangladesh+BGXX0003

Generally Bangladeshis are informal dressers. We suggest you bring a jacket and tie with you for special meeting or occasions, if any.

Electrical current is 220-240V, AC 50Hz. The usual Bangladeshi sockets are two-pin power outlets. However, it is recommended to carry an adaptor with you. You must check the voltage range of your adaptor, otherwise in case, use a voltage converter.

Bangla is the mother tongue of most Bangladeshis. English is the second language.

Shops open from 09:00 to 20:00 hours during the week. Different shopping complexes maintain their weekly holidays on different days. However, most of them are open in weekly holidays, Friday and Saturday.

Bangladesh (Dhaka) is 6 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time i.e. +6 GMT.

Tipping is your prerogative, a reward for service.

Mobile phone calls are most convenient to make calls to mobile phones, land lines and ISD calls. Mobile phone companies also provide GPRS/EDGE internet services which is very cheap (£15) on monthly basis.

United Hospital, Gulshan, Dhaka

Tel: 8836000, 8836444

Mobile: 01914001234

SQUARE Hospital Ltd.

18/F Bir Uttam Qazi Nuruzzaman Sarak

West Panthapath, Dhaka - 1205, Bangladesh.

+88 02 8141522 (10 Numbers)

+88 02 8142333 (10Numbers)

In case of emergency or urgent query, you can reach Convention Focal, Alim Bari, Programme Officer, WaterAid in Bangladesh, (+88) 0175 554 2330 or Md. Razaul Karim Shopon, M-A&IT (+88) 0171 303 1322.