Travel Scams
in Bangladesh

CNG auto-rickshaws (the green compressed natural gas three-wheelers) are fitted with meters but drivers almost universally refuse to use them with foreign passengers, quoting flat rates of BDT 150–300 for journeys the meter would charge BDT 40–80. The same applies to baby taxis (traditional auto-rickshaws). Drivers sometimes claim the meter is broken, that the quoted price is "government fixed," or that traffic makes metered fares impossible. This is the single most consistent tourist frustration in Dhaka.

• Download Pathao or Shohoz before arriving in Dhaka — both are ride-hailing apps with fixed upfront prices that eliminate all CNG fare negotiation.
• Uber also operates in Dhaka (cars only) and is reliable for airport and inter-neighbourhood journeys.
• If using a CNG, agree the fare before getting in and counter-offer firmly — knowing the approximate distance in kilometres helps establish a fair price.
• Ask your hotel staff for current approximate CNG fares to your intended destinations before heading out.

The Sundarbans requires a multi-day boat journey from Mongla or Khulna and is expensive to visit properly. This creates fertile ground for operators who: collect substantial deposits and fail to deliver the promised trip; use boats without life jackets or fire safety equipment; book tours without the required Forest Department permits (meaning parts of the park are inaccessible); or significantly misrepresent what is included. The Sundarbans involves genuine wildlife risk (Bengal tigers, crocodiles) — safety equipment and experienced guides are not optional.

• Book only through operators registered with the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) or well-reviewed agencies with documented trip history.
• Verify that the operator holds current Forest Department permits for the specific zones they plan to enter.
• Ask specifically about safety equipment — life jackets for all passengers, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, and communication equipment.
• Pay no more than 30–40% deposit until you have met the boat and verified the equipment. Reputable operators accept this arrangement.
• Read recent traveller reviews on TripAdvisor and travel forums (Lonely Planet Thorn Tree) specifically for this operator.

Touts at Dhaka's airport arrivals and at bus and launch (river ferry) terminals approach arriving travellers with enthusiastic accommodation recommendations. The guesthouse they lead you to is invariably the one paying them commission — which is invariably reflected in your room price. Tactics include claiming your pre-booked hotel is "closed," "full," or "moved to a new location." These claims are almost always false. Pre-booking removes the vulnerability; scepticism of unsolicited accommodation advice is essential.

• Pre-book accommodation through Booking.com or Agoda before arrival — a confirmed reservation eliminates the touts' leverage.
• If a tout claims your booked hotel is closed/moved, call the hotel directly before believing them — it is almost never true.
• Ignore all unsolicited accommodation recommendations from people you have just met at transport terminals.
• At the airport, proceed directly to the official prepaid taxi desk or use Uber — do not follow touts to waiting vehicles.

A warm, English-speaking young man approaches in Old Dhaka, near the Star Mosque, at Sadarghat river terminal, or Lalbagh Fort. He is genuinely friendly and curious, offers to show you around, and seems like a wonderful local contact. After some time, the route leads to a tea stall, a muslin or handicraft shop, or a tailor where he receives commission on what you spend. The prices at these establishments are significantly above market. In some cases — rarer in Bangladesh than other countries — the extended social interaction leads to a request for money or expensive "gifts."

• Enjoy conversations freely — Bangladeshi curiosity about foreign visitors is genuine and mostly hospitable.
• Be warmly sceptical if a new acquaintance steers toward any specific commercial establishment.
• Choose your own destinations for shopping and eating — recommendations from your guesthouse are more reliable than from strangers encountered on the street.
• You are never obliged to buy anything after entering a shop, regardless of how long you've spent with your new "friend."

Cox's Bazar — the world's longest natural sea beach at 120km — is Bangladesh's most popular domestic tourist destination and receives enormous numbers of Bangladeshi holidaymakers. Foreign tourists are a relative rarity and attract premium pricing. Beach vendors sell shell jewellery, dried fish, and coconuts at tourist-inflated prices. Some hotel operators quote prices to foreign tourists significantly above the local/domestic rate for the same rooms. Drivers of local beach vehicles (beach motorbikes and tonga horse carts) quote fantasy fares.

• Pre-book Cox's Bazar accommodation through Booking.com to lock in a confirmed price — walk-up prices quoted to obvious foreigners can be 2–3× the rate visible online.
• Bargaining is expected for all beach vendor purchases — start at 30–40% of the quoted price.
• Agree beach vehicle fares before boarding — ask your hotel for current approximate rates to calibrate your expectations.
• The main Laboni Beach area is busiest and has most vendor activity — quieter stretches north and south have less pressure.

Street currency changers in Dhaka's Motijheel business district and near tourist areas offer rates above the official rate — the trick involves fast-counting, slipping in old or lower-denomination notes, or short-changing the total. Standalone ATMs (not inside bank branches) carry higher skimming risks. Bangladesh's banking infrastructure outside Dhaka can be unreliable — ATMs run out of cash in tourist areas and connectivity failures are common.

• Exchange currency at bank branches (Dutch Bangla Bank, BRAC Bank, Standard Chartered Bangladesh) or licensed hotel exchange counters — never with street changers.
• Use ATMs inside bank branches during business hours — standalone machines have higher skimming risk.
• Carry more cash than you expect to need when leaving Dhaka — ATM reliability decreases significantly outside the capital.
• Dutch Bangla Bank's orange-branded ATMs are the most widely distributed outside Dhaka and generally reliable.