Bandarban

As malaria is a major health threat in the region, malaria prophylaxis is highly advisable. Avloquin and Malacide are two popular local brands of the drug, purchasable from major Dhaka, Chittagong or Bandarban drugstores that are known as a "pharmacy" in Bangladesh. Incidentally, Bandaraban District Hospital has arguably the best treatment and research facilities for malarial treatment in Bangladesh.

cope

There are a few laundries local name for washing shops in the town, but no dry cleaner. These would wash your clothes by the river. Photoprocessing is easy, as there are quite a few shops at Marmabazaar. The photoprocessing experience can become an exciting experience if you try a shop that has photo studio attached.

points of entry

There are three ways to get to Bandarban. The easiest is a direct bus ride from Dhaka which takes 6 hours. The few services available are Dolphin at Kalabagan, Unique service, Shyamoli Paribahan at Gabtali, Asad gate, Fakirerpul, Kamlapur, Saydabad and S Alam at Kamalapur. On the high tourist season it is advisable to buy tickets in advance.

There are a few services available that offer a bus ride from Chittagong which takes 2 hours the most available is Purbani at Bahaddarhaat. To reach Chittagong from Dhaka there are three options - taking a flight Bangladesh Biman or GMG airline, a bus ride Sohag is undoubtedly the best service, available at Kalabagan and Mahakhali or a train ride from Kamalapur Turna Nishitha, Mahanagar Godhuli and Subarna.

From Cox's Bazar, it is a 3-hour busride the most available is Purbani at Laaldighi. To reach Cox's Bazaar from Dhaka it is possible take either a 10-hour bus ride Sohag is the best or a flight Bangladesh Biman or GMG airlines. From Chittagong it is 4-hour bus ride apart from Dolphin, Purbani is the most available.

Purbani Bus Srvice, Phone:01820412800 Chittagong, 0361-62508 Bandarban

It is possible to get to Bandarban directly from Rangamati by way of Chandraghona, but the perilous route is not advisable at all.

Transport	Departure	Arrival	Price
GMG Airlines	Dhaka	Chittagong	$69.00
GMG Airlines	Dhaka	Cox's Bazaar	$89.00
Turna Nishitha AC Sleeper	Dhaka	Chittagong	$8.80
Turna Nishitha 1st Class	Dhaka	Chittagong	$6.00
Turna Nishitha 2nd Class	Dhaka	Chittagong	$2.00
Shohag AC Bus	Dhaka	Chittagong	$5.35
Hanif Bus	Dhaka	Chittagong	$3.35
S Alam Bus	Dhaka	Chittagong	$3.35

Check for Dhaka-Chittagong train travels here. Check for GNG flights here. Check for Guide Tours Limited here.

contact

361 is the area code for Bandarban. For further details see Bangladesh.

The telecom watchdog, Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Commission BTRC, has permitted Rankstel and QC Telecom, two privately owned phone companies, to provide telular Fixed Wireless Transceiver based phones services in Bandarban, which is about the equal to connections provided by Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board BTTB, the government owned monopoly on fixed-line telephone service, and are far more available.

There are a couple of cybercafes that offer internet services. But, since they are not connected to the information superhighway via submarine cables, the connections are pretty slow, often dipping below 0.4kb. These usually remain open from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

Postal codes for Bandarban are - 4600 Bandarban Sadar, 4630 Thanchi, 4641 Lama, 4660 Nikhongchhari, 4650 Alikadam, 4610 Rowangchhari, and 4620 Ruma. The surface mail is notoriously slow and undependable. There also is a possibility of mail from foreign nationals getting opened and checked by civil or military authorities.

stay healthy

Drinking water often comes from hillside streams. Therefore, insist upon water from tube wells, or carry your own supply of water bottles or water purification tablets. Halotab is the popular local brand of purification tablets. Bandarban pharmacies may not have a stock of it, therefore it is advisable that the tablet is bought from Dhaka or Chittagong.