Arriving in Bangladesh

Flight frequency

There is a direct flight between Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, Pakistan and Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka operated by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) twice weekly.

Airport Hotel

In case you are coming from airport other than Karachi, and you have a transit of more than 8 hours, then you will be provided complimentary stay in Airport Hotel which includes Air conditioned 2 single bedded room, free buffet and Hi-Tea. Do not forget to take hotel coupon from PIA transit desk which you have to show upon arrival in hotel. Airport to hotel transfer and vice versa is provided by PIA free of cost. You have to wait in front of McDonalds where PIA Bus will pick you up.

Immigration in Pakistan:

If you are carrying medicines ASF might demand Prescription, so keep doctors prescriptions specially if you are carrying high quantity of medicine like I did once. At immigration they might ask you questions about your visa like what do you do? where do you study? what subject? questions like that. They wont bother you unless you have some problem in visa or passport specially those passport which are expiring in 6 months. So better renew your passport and go. Had a very bad experience once nearly denied exit. Apart from that there should not be any problem.

Immigration in Bangladesh

You will be provided with an arrival card in the flight that needs to be filled and surrendered at immigration counter in Bangladesh or you can fill it online http://www.immi.gov.bd/frner_arrival.php print it and submit it in said counter.

You might have to drink polio drops, if  you are not carrying your polio vaccination card.

polio vaccination card

polio vaccination card

After arrival in Bangladesh you being Pakistani will go through the extra scrutiny than other nationalities. Individual visas are verified by Immigration authorities which might take 1 to 2 hours to clear.

Foreigners Registration

Now there is a rule that Pakistanis have to register themselves with Immigration, Bangladesh Police within a stipulated time, so you have two options:

1. Go to foreigners registration desk within airport and register yourself  OR
2. You can go to your designated city and register with special branch, in case of Chittagong where I live you have to register at Chittagong Metropolitan police headquarters

Whatever way you choose, Following documents are required at the time of registration with the Foreigners Registration Offices in Bangladesh:

• Original passport on which visa is endorsed.
• Two passport type photographs of the applicant
• A registration form duly filled (Can be obtained at Registration office or you can fill online registration form by this website   http://www.immi.gov.bd/frner_reg.php   and print it)

 There is no fee charged for registration.

You will need this Certificate of registration, if you stay in any hotel in Bangladesh OR  at the time of leaving Bangladesh you will surrender certificate of registration to the Registration Officer of the place where they are registered and will collect the exit permit.

NOTE:

However, a late fee is charged for late registration*. In that case you will need to submit Treasury Deposit (Challan) slip of late registration fees deposited at Bangladesh bank or Sonali Bank, in reference to deposit Code 1-2275-0000-2681.

A late fee is required for being late for more than 7 days, the fee structure is as below:

(i) Taka 2000/- (Two thousand) after expiry of 7 days on arrival
(ii) Taka 5000/- (Five thousand) after expiry of 15 days on arrival
The late fee needs to be deposited at Bangladesh bank or Sonali Bank, in reference to deposit Code 1-2275-0000-2681. A copy of the treasury Challan (deposit slip) must be submitted with the registration form to the concerned officer.

*Though this is the rule but they donot strictly adhere to this as I myself registered more than a year late and at one instance obatined both certificate of registration and exit permit at same time and registered to the registration office other than my district of residence. But to be on safe side  I will advise not to do that.

Registration Stamp

foreigners registration

foreigners registration

Currency Exchange

After this you can convert your currency at the airport, currency exchange companies give pretty good rates and then you can buy SIM card. 1 US Dollar equals 78.52 Bangladeshi Taka as of 12/10/2016

Buying SIM Cards

Unlike Jinnah International Airport,Karachi, there is no free Wifi in Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka, so you will need to buy local  SIM Card which can be bought from the outlets just after the immigration counters by using your Passport.

These are some of famous SIM Companies of Bangladesh:

• Airtel Bangladesh Ltd.
• banglalink 
• Grameenphone
• Teletalk Bangladesh Limited,

Registering at High Commission of Pakistan

You can register at High Commission of Pakistan,  NE(C) 2, Rd No 71, Dhaka by printing and filling this form   http://www.mofa.gov.pk/bangladesh/documents/Pak-Reg-Form.doc

Most probably you will be received by some Seniors at Dhaka airport, they can guide you how to go to other cities or might probably go with you if they are from same college as you are selecetd in.

Intercity Transport

If you are all alone and want to come to Chittagong then following are the bus service you can use:

• Green Line Paribahan  
• 9/2, Outer Circular Road, Momen Bagh, Rajarbagh, Dhaka – 1217. TEL : +88 02 8315380

• Shohagh Paribahan (Pvt.) Ltd. 
• 114 Malibagh DIT Road Phone:9344477,01711612433

• Shyamoli Paribahan Pvt. Ltd (Kallyanpur)

You can use following websites to see their time table, fare etc

http://shyamolibusservice.com/

http://www.shohagh.biz/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=64

http://www.greenlinebd.com/

For further information on PIA, Airport hotel and immigration you can visit following websites:

http://www.immi.gov.bd/

http://www.airporthotel.com.pk/

http://www.piac.com.pk/

I hope it helps