Welcome to Bangladesh
TakaCurrency in Bangladesh
Today’s Weather
30
°C
10:28 AM
Wednesday
Basic Country Profile
Location: South Asia
Capital:Dhaka
Population: 150.2 million (Census 2011)
Major Languages: Bengali
Major Religions: Muslim
Currency: Bangladeshi Taka
Terrain: Mostly flat low lying plains
Climate: Tropical
Dial Code: +880
Time Zone: UTC + 6:00
Disability Population: 1.4% (2011 Census, BBS); 9.07% (2010, Household Income and Expenditure Survey)
Emergency Numbers:
999 (Ambulance, Police and the Fire Service and Civil Defence)
Disability Legislations and Policies
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) – Ratified on November 30, 2007. Bangladesh’s CRPD State Party reports submitted to the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) can be read at http://tbinternet.ohchr.org
National Constitution of Bangladesh (1972) – The National Constitution of Bangladesh has provisions that obligate the government to protect the rights and dignity of all citizens of the country equally. http://bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd [pdf]
Rights & Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2013 – In line with the principles of the UNCRPD, the Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act was passed on October 9, 2013 replacing the previous Disabled Welfare Act of 2001. The full text of the law can be read here – To read the full text of the law, visit Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs’s website.
Travel Related Information
Most roads in Bangladesh do not have proper sidewalks and those that do are often in disrepair and not easily accessible by persons with disabilities. Few roads have proper crosswalks for pedestrians. Flyovers are accessible only by climbing stairs and walking across; there are no ramps or elevators to assist those with disabilities. The public transportation system is overcrowded and not easily accessible by those with disabilities.
It is difficult for persons with disabilities to travel independently in the country. It is highly advised to travel with assistance and plan your travel beforehand. There are no accessible cab services available, so it is best to hire a private taxi.
Hotels
Outside Dhaka’s five-star hotels, facilities for travelers with disabilities are almost non-existent in Bangladesh, and conditions in general make traveling extremely challenging. Footpaths are difficult and inaccessible for persons with disabilities.