Bangladesh

Located in South Asia, Bangladesh is bordered by India on three sides and Myanmar to the southeast, with a southern coastline along the Bay of Bengal. Dhaka is the capital and largest city. Bengali is the official language and a central pillar of national identity, with the Bangladeshi taka as currency. The country emerged as an independent state in 1971 and carries a deeply literary and musical cultural tradition rooted in the Bengal region.

Many nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival or apply through Bangladesh's e-Visa portal before travel. Requirements vary considerably by nationality, so travellers should verify current conditions through the official Department of Immigration and Passports or their nearest Bangladeshi embassy well in advance of travel.

The Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest straddling the Bangladesh-India border, shelters the Royal Bengal tiger in a dense network of tidal waterways. The ancient Buddhist monastery ruins at Paharpur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, date to the eighth century. Lalbagh Fort in Dhaka is a seventeenth-century Mughal complex still partially unfinished. Cox's Bazar offers one of the longest unbroken natural sea beaches in the world at roughly 120 kilometres. The Sixty Dome Mosque in Bagerhat, another UNESCO site, is a striking example of medieval sultanate architecture.

Bangladesh has a tropical monsoon climate with three broad seasons. Winters from November to February are mild and dry, with temperatures typically between 10°C and 25°C — the most comfortable period for travel. Summers from March to May are hot and humid, reaching 35°C or above. The monsoon season from June to October brings heavy rainfall and periodic flooding across the low-lying delta. Lightweight breathable clothing suits most of the year; a waterproof layer is essential during monsoon months.

• Bengali Language Movement of 1952 inspired International Mother Language Day.
• Home to the world's largest river delta system.
• Jute, once called "golden fibre," drove Bangladesh's early export economy.
• Dhaka is among the world's most densely populated cities.
• The national anthem was written by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.

• bangladesh.gov.bd — official Government of Bangladesh portal
• visa.gov.bd — Department of Immigration and Passports e-Visa system
• parjatan.gov.bd — Bangladesh Tourism Board
• bmd.gov.bd — Bangladesh Meteorological Department