Bangladesh flagTransportation & Infrastructure Guide · Bangladesh

Transportation & Infrastructure Guide in Bangladesh

Public transit, airports, and getting around

Bangladesh, with a population of over 164 million, features a transportation landscape heavily reliant on roads amid dense urbanization and riverine geography. Key strengths include ambitious projects like the Padma Bridge enhancing regional connectivity and economic integration, while challenges encompass poor road conditions, climate vulnerability, governance issues, and corruption. Major features are an expanding highway network, extensive bus services, regional rail, and 58 airports serving domestic and international travel. Residents and visitors navigate via affordable buses, ferries across rivers, CNG auto-rickshaws, and rideshares in cities like Dhaka, though traffic congestion and flooding pose daily hurdles.
Public Transport
Below Average
Road Infrastructure
Below Average
Public Transport
3.5/10

Basic bus networks cover major cities like Dhaka with frequent but overcrowded services; trains provide regional connectivity but lack high-speed options. Limited metro development in Dhaka; poor integration between modes, buses, and ferries. Accessibility is low, with irregular frequencies outside peak hours.

Road Infrastructure
4.2/10

Extensive but poorly maintained road network, with 79% of climate-related infrastructure losses affecting roads. Limited highways; urban roads congested and potholed; rural unpaved sections vulnerable to floods. Traffic management basic, safety features inadequate; ranks 191st globally in road vulnerability.

Internet Speed
5.2/10

Average fixed broadband speeds around 45 Mbps, with mobile at 25 Mbps as of 2026. Fiber expanding in urban areas like Dhaka via BTCL and private ISPs, but rural-urban gap persists with many relying on 4G. Investments growing for better connectivity.

Avg: 45+ Mbps • Available in major cities (Dhaka, Chittagong), expanding to district towns; limited rural coverage

Airport Connectivity
5.8/10

58 airports total, 9 major ones including Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International (DAC) as primary hub with flights to Middle East, Europe, Asia. Good domestic coverage to Sylhet, Chittagong; moderate international routes via Biman Bangladesh Airlines.

Hubs: Dhaka (DAC), Chittagong (CGP), Sylhet (ZYL)

Transportation Costs

Metro Pass
N/A (limited metro)
Bus Trip
BDT 5-20 single ride
Taxi
BDT 30-50 start + BDT 10-15/km (CNG/rideshare)
High-speed Train
N/A (regional trains BDT 200-1000 Dhaka-Chittagong)

Mobile Network

5G Coverage: Deployed in Dhaka, Chittagong, expanding to major cities 2024-2026 by Grameenphone, Robi
4G Coverage: 85-90% population coverage, strong urban, improving rural

Reliable networks from Grameenphone, Banglalink, Robi; good urban speeds but congestion and power outages affect rural quality.

Driving License

IDP requiredConversion needed

Foreign licenses valid for 90 days with IDP; long-term residents must convert to Bangladeshi license via BRTA test. Drives on left side.