Bangladesh

Compliance/Financial Considerations

If you intend to do any of the following in Bangladesh, please contact Risk Services at risk@berkeley.edu or 642-5141:

  • Hire a local to work for you as an employee
  • Purchase or lease office or research space
  • Purchase or lease an automobile
  • Establish a long-term (over 90 days) or ongoing project
  • Conduct a clinical trial

U.S. GOVERNMENT COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS

Foreign activities may trigger many U.S. laws, including:

  • Import Controls
  • Export Controls
  • Tax Reporting
  • Foreign Bank Account Reporting
  • Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions
  • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
  • Anti-Boycott Laws

Import Controls. UC employees must adhere to U.S. import requirements, and may need to enlist the services of a customs broker, especially for shipments arriving by sea and subject to the Importer Security Filing 71730, also known as ISF 10+2.

Export Controls. Export controls may apply to advanced software and technology, research data, and other sensitive assets. UC’s Export Compliance FAQ contains useful information and can be found here.  Go here for the University of California plan for compliance with federal export controls. If you plan on taking or sending potentially export-controlled materials to Bangladesh, consult the campus Research Administration Compliance Office at 642-0120.

Tax Reporting. The University and its employees may be taxed in foreign countries. The tax implications for operating in Bangladesh may be found at the Internal Revenue Service’s United States-Bangladesh Income Tax Convention. For further clarification, contact the Controller’s Office at:

Foreign Bank Account Reporting. The U.S. Treasury Department requires U.S. citizens with a financial interest in or signatory authority over a financial account in a foreign country, where accounts exceed $10,000 at any point during a calendar year, to report such accounts on a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FinCen Report 114). Those needing to complete the form should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu or 643-9803 for assistance. An IRS 1040 Schedule B form (Part III–Foreign Accounts and Trusts) must be filed by the signatory for any foreign bank account, regardless of the account balance.

Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions. In general, collaborations between University personnel and scholars at foreign institutions or organizations do not require export licenses unless they involve export-controlled or -restricted research or involve scholars in sanctioned countries. Before engaging in an international collaboration, the University needs to determine whether export licenses are required and to verify that the foreign collaborator is not blocked or sanctioned. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is responsible for enforcing all U.S. embargoes and sanctions. Depending on each country’s embargo or sanction program, activities may be prohibited without specific authorization or license. UC’s International Collaborations webpage contains additional information on this topic.   

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is intended to stop bribery. It prohibits offering to pay, paying, promising to pay, or authorizing the payment of money or anything of value to a foreign official. The term “foreign official” generally includes any employee or contractor of a foreign government, and may include individuals employed by foreign universities. It is also unlawful to make a payment to a third party knowing that all or part of the payment will go to a foreign official. For more information, review the federal government’s Resource Guide to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. If you need further clarification, contact the UC Berkeley Office of Legal Affairs at 642-7122.  Transparency International’s 2018 survey of perceived public sector corruption rated Bangladesh at 26 out of 100 (149th out of 180 countries reviewed, i.e.  corrupt).

Anti-Boycott Laws.  The U.S. Department of Commerce is responsible for oversight of laws prohibiting individuals and entities from participating in boycotts not approved or sanctioned by the U.S. government. The Export Administration Act requires that requests to participate in such boycotts or to conduct activities in any of the boycotting countries be formally reported to the Department of Commerce and/or IRS.

For other compliance-related issues, refer to UC’s International Compliance webpage.  

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR DOING BUSINESS INTERNATIONALLY

Foreign Bank Accounts. Employees wishing to open a foreign bank account should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu or 643-9803. Requests to open accounts must be made through the Office of the President’s Banking and Treasury Services Group by the Chancellor or the Chancellor’s designee. 

Real Estate Agreements. Only employees with delegated authority to sign contracts on behalf of The Regents may enter into agreements, leases, or other contracts.  Foreign affiliates or operations must submit to the Real Estate Services Office property management agreements, personal property leases, or contracts with a term longer than one year or in an amount greater than $25,000 per year. The campus then seeks approval from the University president or designee. For more information, consult the Guidelines for the Establishment and Operation of Foreign Affiliate Organizations and Foreign Operations.

Articles

The US State Department's page on BANGLADESH may be found HERE.

Personal Safety

BANGLADESH CONTINUES TO EASE DOMESTIC COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS GRADUALLY AS OF OCTOBER 15. MEDICAL CERTIFICATION, QUARANTINE REQUIRED FOR ENTRY. RESIDENTS MUST WEAR PROTECTIVE FACE COVERINGS WHEN IN PUBLIC, THE GOVERNEMENT PLANS TO STEP UP ENFORCEMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT; AUTHORITIES ARE REQUIRING GOVERNMENT OFFICES, BUSINESSES, AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO REFUSE SERVICE TO PEOPLE WITHOUT FACEMASKS. NONESSENTIAL LARGE GATHERINGS REMAIN BANNED.  SCHOOLS REMAIN CLOSED THROUGH AT LEAST OCTOBER 31. LOCAL AUTHORITIES ARE AUTHORIZED TO IMPOSE STRICTER COVID-19 MEASURES, INCLUDING BANS ON NOESSENTIAL ACTIVITY, MOVEMENT, AND TRANSPORT IN AREAS IDENTIFIED AS HIGH-RISK. 

EXERCISE INCREASED CAUTION IN BANGLADESH DUE TO CRIME AND TERRORISM.  SOME AREAS HAVE INCREASED RISK.

Note: this page contains basic risk information. For more details, please contact the Risk Services Office at risk@berkeley.edu.

If you are traveling to Bangladesh on University-related business, please sign up for the University’s travel insurance program by going here. For more information on the travel insurance program, please go here.

Because everyone’s health is unique, we suggest seeking the advice of a medical professional before traveling internationally. Members of the campus community interested in protecting their health while abroad may schedule an appointment with the University Health Services International Travel Clinic

The quality of health care in Bangladesh is generally poor. Sterilization procedures are often subpar, and anesthesiologists are in short supply. Medications may be counterfeit or expired. Sick and injured travelers are advised to evacuate Bangladesh and seek care in a more developed location. The Department of State maintains this list of specialists in Dhaka, although it disavows responsibility for the quality of their care.

Public ambulances are not recommended, but if they become necessary dial 912-3073 or 821-2041. Some hospitals provide ambulance service, but for the most part these are not recommended either.

Air pollution can be a problem in urban areas. If you have a chronic respiratory condition such as asthma, please consult a medical professional prior to your trip and carry appropriate medications.

Travelers should assume the drinking water is contaminated with sewage, industrial chemicals, or both. Water may be in short supply in the northern and southwestern parts of the country. To reduce the risk of gastrointestinal discomfort or illness, drink bottled, boiled, or purified water only.

Street vendors and other unregulated food distributors often maintain substandard hygiene regimens and should be avoided. Travelers should also avoid raw or undercooked meat dishes and unpasteurized dairy products, which frequently harbor bacterial and parasitic pathogens.

Travelers risk contracting a number of serious illnesses in Bangladesh, including:

  • Tuberculosis. The World Health Organization considers Bangladesh a high-risk country for tuberculosis. Travelers staying for an extended time should get a pre-departure PPD skin test. Avoid crowded public spaces and mass transportation whenever possible.
  • Malaria, transmitted via mosquito bites, everywhere outside Dhaka and especially along the northeastern border with India and the southeastern border with Myanmar (Burma).
  • Japanese encephalitis, transmitted via mosquito bites, in the Tangail District of Dhaka and in the Rajshahi Division. Avoid prolonged stays in rural areas if at all possible.
  • Dengue fever, transmitted via mosquito bites, primarily from May to September. 

Crime is a serious risk in Bangladesh. Poverty and unemployment contribute to high levels of street crime, especially in the major cities. Political and labor demonstrations can turn violent from both sides, occasionally leading to riots. Bangladeshi police forces are understaffed, poorly trained, under-resourced, and often corrupt. The frequency of terrorist attacks is increasing. On July 1, 2016, terrorists killed twenty hostages, including UC Berkeley student Tarishi Jain, in a restaurant frequented by foreigners in Dhaka’s Gulshan district. 

Avoid public transportation. Petty theft is common on trains and at train stations, and schedules are unreliable, especially during monsoon season. For travel between major cities or to tourist destinations, use private bus services such as Green Line, Shyamoli, SilkLine, and Shohagh. Driving a car is inadvisable. The quality of roads is poor, rules of the road are often ignored, and serious accidents may draw crowds that take justice into their own hands. Vehicle thefts and break-ins are common. Taxis are usually three-wheel motor vehicles or human powered cycle rickshaws; hiring a car and driver from a reputable firm or using transport services provided by local contacts is safer. 

Bangladesh is  low-lying country that suffers serious flooding during monsoon season, which usually lasts from June to October. The coastal areas of Barguna, Barisal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Jhalakathi, and Pirojpur are highly vulnerable to cyclones, floods, and tidal surges. Cyclones and storm surges in the Bay of Bengal often cause widespread destruction and loss of life.

Legal/Political

Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs are particularly severe. Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the United States, regardless of local law. 

  • Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Bangladesh are severe, including long jail sentences, heavy fines, or even death.
  • You may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you, or if you take pictures of certain buildings, such as military facilities, embassies, police stations, shipyards, traffic inspection facilities, or airports. This list is not meant to be exhaustive. You should exercise caution when photographing government facilities in general.
  • Driving under the influence is illegal and could result in immediate incarceration.

Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. 

Drones: All forms of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), colloquially known as “drones,” are highly regulated and restricted in Bangladesh and are subject to import and flight restrictions. Failure to obtain import and/or flight permission can result in detention and/or arrest, as well as confiscation of the RPAS. Visit the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh website for the latest RPAS regulations.

LGBTI Rights: Consensual same-sex sexual activity is criminalized in Bangladesh and penalties include up to life imprisonment.