IX. BUSINESS TRAVEL Business Customs Bangladeshi businessmen are usually very courteous. Foreign visitors often find that hosting small meals for their Bangladeshi agents, representatives, or business contacts helps to smooth business negotiations. Visitors may also be invited to similar types of social engagements as guests of their Bangladeshi hosts. Travel Advisory and Visas All United States citizens are required to have visas for entry into Bangladesh. Should a business traveler be unable to arrange for a visa, immigration officials at Zia International Airport in Dhaka are authorized to issue limited 15-day visas free of charge. For further information concerning entry requirements for Bangladesh, travelers can contact the Embassy of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, 2201 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20007, TEL: (202) 342-8372, or the Consulate General of People's Republic of Bangladesh, 821 United Nations Plaza, 8th Fl., New York, NY 10017, TEL: (212) 867-3434. The International Certificate of Vaccination is no longer required for travel to Bangladesh, but typhoid immunization and malaria suppressants are recommended, particularly for those traveling outside Dhaka. Travel Fees Business travelers departing on domestic and international flights must pay an Embarkation Fee/Departure Tax, currently TK 50 and TK 300 respectively. Foreigners are not required to pay other local travel taxes. Currency and Exchange Regulations There is no limit on the amount of foreign or U.S. dollar instruments (travelers checks, money orders, etc.) that may be brought into Bangladesh, but all foreign exchange must be declared upon entry, and visitors should be prepared to account for it upon departure. U.S. citizens must settle their bills at the international hotels in Dhaka and Chittagong in a convertible currency or Bangladesh Taka. Visitors should only make financial transactions through authorized channels. Commercial exchange facilities are available through both domestic and foreign commercial banks or through local hotel cashiers. The banking sector can carry out most international transactions, but service varies greatly among banks and individual branches. Holidays The BDG announces holidays for the next year in late December. Muslim religious holidays vary with appearance of the moon. A list of Bangladesh's national holidays for 1994 follows (religious holidays may move one or two days in either direction): February 21 (Martyrs' Day); March 11 (Shab-i-Qadr); March 13-14 (Eid-ul-Fitr); March 26 (Independence Day); April 14 (Bangla New Year's Day); May 1 (May Day); May 21-24 (Eid-ul- Azha); June 20 (Muharram (Ashura)); Agust 29 (Janmaausthami); November 7 (Solidarity Day). Business Infrastructure Transportation: Bangladesh's railroad network totals 2,800 miles. There are also 4,700 miles of paved roads. Inland water transportation accounts for about 65 percent of domestic cargo transportation and about 38 percent of inter-district passenger traffic. The major seaports are at Chittagong and Mongla. Zia International Airport is located at Dhaka. The national air carrier, Biman Bangladesh, currently enjoys a monopoly on domestic air service. Language: Although Bangla (Bengali) is the official language of Bangladesh, English is widely spoken and used in both official and business circles. U.S. business people may greet their Bangladeshi counterparts with normal English salutations. In Bangla, the usual greeting is "a-salaam-walaikum" (meaning "peace be with you"); the cordial response is "walaikum-as-salaam" ("and also with you"). A polite parting phrase is "Khoda haafez" ("God bless"). Communications: Telex, telephone, and airmail postal services are available for business correspondence. Most international telephone calls must be booked through an operator, usually after some delay. Collect telephone calls cannot be made from Bangladesh. International direct dialing telephones and fax machines are increasingly available in major cities and hotels in Bangladesh. Cellular phones service is just beginning in Dhaka. Bangladesh is six hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) (normally 11 hours ahead of Eastern standard time or 10 hours during daylight time). Airmail correspondence takes two weeks to arrive from the United States. Registration of all letters sent by international mail is recommended. Express mail is available to the major cities. International courier services, including DHL, Federal Express, Airborne, and TNT Skypack, operate to and from Bangladesh. United Parcel Service also operates to Bangladesh. Inbound express mail often is delayed up to a week by customs formalities. Housing: Two high-standard international hotels are located in Dhaka, the Sonargaon Hotel and the Dhaka Sheraton. The more moderately priced Hotel Purbani is also used by some business visitors to Dhaka. In Chittagong, visitors usually stay at the Hotel Agrabad. As an alternative to hotels. or for longer stays, adequate rest- house accommodations are available in exclusive neighborhoods in Dhaka and Chittagong. Health: Medical facilities are inadequate in Bangladesh. There is only one registered physician for every 5,700 persons. Most of the diseases are water-borne. Sterilized water is safe for drinking. Appropriate vaccinations and malarial prophalxyis are essential for any visit to Bangladesh. Food: Restaurants in Dhaka and Chittagong serve mainly local (Bengali) and Asian cuisine. Continental fare is available at Dhaka's international standard hotels. Local food is spicy and hot. The main components of local food are boiled rice and fish or mutton, beef, or chicken curry. Vegetables and dal (lentils) are also popular. Western foods are only available in international-standard hotels. Soft drinks and bottled ware are widely available throughout the country. Alcoholic beverages are available only in international-standard hotels, private expatriate clubs, and a few bars and restaurants in Dhaka and Chittagong.