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General Information
Bangladesh comprises of six districts or divisions spanning an area of 144,000 square kilometers with its capital, Dhaka located at the center. It is bordered to the west and northwest by West Bengal (India), to the north by Assam and Meghalaya (India), to the east by Assam and Tripura (India) and by Myanmar (Burma) to the southeast. The population of about 133 million people is predominantly made up of Bengalis in addition to various ethnic groups.
The intriguing capital city of Bangladesh sits on the north bank of the bustling Buriganga River, roughly in the centre of the country. The oldest section of the city runs along the north bank of the waterfront and was developed when Dhaka was a significant Moghul trading centre.
The Conference
The objective of the International Conference on “Bridging the Gap Between Micro and SME Finance” can be highlighted as a celebration of the immense success microfinance practices experienced throughout the world. Microfinance as we know finds its early execution in Bangladesh by its pioneers BRAC and Grameen Bank who have helped alleviate poverty, raise social awareness and self-sustainability among so many ordinary Bangladeshis. Decades after its successful implementation that have given birth to nearly fifteen million microfinance institution, it is now time to facilitate these micro enterprises to the next level as Small and Medium Enterprises (SME).
We are arranging two tours to Grameen and BRAC projects for distinguished guests for them to have an up-close experience of the initiatives of these organizations taken for microfinance practices.
Grameen Bank: Grameen Bank as pioneers in banking has reversed conventional banking practice by removing the need for collateral and created a banking system based on mutual trust, accountability, participation and creativity. It provides credit to the poorest of the poor in rural Bangladesh, without any collateral. At Grameen Bank, credit is a cost effective weapon to fight poverty and it serves as a catalyst in the over all development of socio-economic conditions of the poor who have been kept outside the banking orbit on the ground that they are poor and hence not bankable. Professor Muhammad Yunus, the founder of "Grameen Bank" and its Managing Director, reasoned that if financial resources can be made available to the poor people on terms and conditions that are appropriate and reasonable, "these millions of small people with their millions of small pursuits can add up to create the biggest development wonder."
BRAC: With a vision of "a just, enlightened, healthy and democratic Bangladesh free from hunger, poverty, environmental degradation and all forms of exploitation based on age, sex, religion and ethnicity," BRAC started as an almost entirely donor funded, small-scale relief and rehabilitation projet to help the country overcome the devastation and trauma of the Liberation War. Today, BRAC has emerged as an independent, virtually self-financed paradigm in sustainable human development. It is the largest in the world employing 97,192 people, with the twin objectives of poverty alleviation and empowerment of the poor. Through experiential learning, BRAC today provides and protects livelihoods of around 100 million people in Bangladesh. Diagnosing poverty in human terms and recognising its multidimensional nature, BRAC approaches poverty alleviation with a holistic approach. BRAC's outreach covers all 64 districtsof the country and furthermore, has been called upon to assist a number of countries including Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.
Venue
Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre, situated around the lush green surroundings of Sher-e-Banglanagar, Dhaka, hosts one of the world's biggest and most modern convention centres. The conference centre sprawls over 50,000 square meters of the lush green landscape with its main hall having a seating capacity for 1700 persons, 700 delegates on the floor and 1000 observers in the galleries. It has two 200-seat rooms for committee meetings, four negotiation rooms, a 700-seat banquet hall and a 300-seat media briefing room. The centre, designed by the Beijing Institute of Architectural Designs and Research, combines in it the latest architectural technology that is equipped with a simultaneous four-language translation system, facilities for direct broadcast and telecast of its programmes and is also equipped to receive messages and programmes through satellite.
Business Hours
The country is run on a normal eight hours a day system with Saturday as the half day and Friday is a day of rest. Government offices are opened from 9am up to 5pm on weekdays only. Banking hour is similar on from Monday to Friday and 9.00am to 1:00pm on Saturdays. Department stores and supermarkets are opened daily from 10am to 10pm.
Climate
Bangladesh's tropical monsoon weather guarantees sunny days with occasional rainfall. The average temperature in November ranges from 23° to 31° (C).
Currency
The unit of currency for Bangladesh is the Taka (Tk.). Money and travellers checks can be exchanged at banks and moneychangers. Credit cards are accepted in hotels and department stores. Currently, the Bangladeshi Taka has an official exchange rate that gives you approximately Tk 65 for every one US Dollar.
Electricity
220-240V AC at 50 cycles per second. Standard UK-type three pin plugs are used.
Entry/Exit Requirements
All travelers to Bangladesh must have a valid visa in their valid passport prior to arrival with a minimum validity of six months beyond the intended period of visit. Delegates can obtain information about visa requirements from the Bangladeshi diplomatic mission in their country. If you require a letter of invitation to facilitate your visa application, please contact: Shaon Tanvir, Nazma Hoque or Shafin Ahmed. Email: STanvir@ifc.org , NHoque@ifc.org , ahmed_s@sedf.org or call for information at these numbers. Ph: 880 2 9861711-20 cell: 880 1 73 030 508
Airport Tax
There are two exit requirements:
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When traveling by air, there is a departure tax on all passengers above the age of two. This tax can be collected at the airport at the time of departure. These requirements may be subject to change, and travelers are advised to check with the Embassy of Bangladesh before traveling.
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Departing foreign nationals are also required to comply with the income tax ordinance of 1984 and submit an income tax clearance certificate/income tax exemption certificate to local airline offices upon departure from Bangladesh |
Hotel Accommodations
Listed Below is information of various hotels of Dhaka city. They are as follows
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Dhaka Sheraton Hotel - www. sheraton .com/ dhaka ; Tel:+8802-8613391,8611191, Fax: 8312915 |
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Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel - Tel: +8802-8111005 Fax:+8802-8113324 |
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Best Western La Vinci Hotel - Tel: +8802-9113155, 9130919, Fax:+8802-9131218
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Hotel Sarina - Tel: +8802-8851011-4, Fax: +8802-9889989 |
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Hotel Swiss Park - Tel:+8802-9888316, 9889212, Fax:+8802-8822603 |
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Lake Castle Hotel - Tel:+8802-8812812, 8814915, Fax:+8802-9884675
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Hotel Lake Shore - Tel: +8802-8859991,8861787, Fax:+8802-8860534
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Asia Pacific Blossom Hotel : Tel: +8802-9880406, Fax:+8802-9888512
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Aristocrat Inn - Tel: +8802-9881014, 9892327, Fax:+8802- 8821721
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Hotel Bon Vivant -Tel: +8802-9892462, 9896108, Fax:+8802-9886866
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Hotel Purbani International -Tel: +8802-9563624, 9552229, Fax:+8802- |
Attractions
Bangladesh has been blessed with a number of unique attraction that are offered to tourists namely in capital Dhaka, port city of Chittagong and the beach resort of Cox's Bazar. Among the other attractions are the 7 th Century Mainamati Ruins and the 8 th century Buddhist Monetary of Somapuri Vihara. Bangladesh is also home to the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove belt in the world stretching 80km in Indian West Bengal.
Dhaka: Dhaka's premier attraction is Lalbagh Fort, an unfinished fort dating from 1678 located in the old quarters of the city. The National Museum is north of old Dhaka in the old European zone known as modern city. It has fascinating displays of Bangladesh's Hindu, Buddhist and Moghul past, art and handicrafts .
Bangladesh is indeed a shoppers' paradise with a rich tradition in handicrafts at throw away prices. While muslin of ancient Dhaka has gone into history, other products such as contemporary paintings, wood works,bamboo decoration pieces, cane and conch shell products, gold and silver ornament, cotton, silk, gold, silver, jute, reed, brassware, traditional dolls and leather goods also receive deep appreciation of the lovers of arts and crafts now and over the past centuries. In addition, Bangladesh is famous for pink pearl. You can find these products on a number of handicraft shops and boutiques namely Aarong, Prabartana, Jatra, Folk International. For more information on name location and products please visit www.brac-aarong.com or www.discoverybangladesh.com/travel_info_shopping .
Cox's Bazar: Bangladesh's only beach resort is near the Myanmar border in an area where Burmese Buddhist flavour and ever increasing amenities are there to service visitors attracted by its enormous expanse of shark-free beach. Cox's Bazar has the longest stretch of uninterrupted coastline in the world. South of Cox's Bazar is more secluded beaches such as Himcheri and Inani where having a swim can still be a private experience.
Mainamati Ruins: Famous in history as an important centre of Buddhist cultures of the 7th and12th centuries, the buildings excavated here were made wholly of baked bricks. There are more than 50 scattered Buddhist sites, but the three most important named Salban Vihara, Kotila Mura and Charpatra Mura . The 8th-century Somapuri Vihara at Paharpur was formerly the biggest Buddhist monastery south of the Himalaya. It's by far the most impressive archaeological site in Bangladesh, and covers some 27 acres.
Sundarban National Park: Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, The Sundarbans are the largest littoral mangrove belt in the world, stretching 80km (50mi) into the Bangladeshi hinterland from the coast covering an area of 38,500 sq km, of which about one-third is covered in water. Wildlife includes deer, crocodiles, river dolphins and the mighty Bengal tiger. The park is also home to sea gypsy fishing families who catch fish using trained otters. To see this pristine environment, you need to get a permit from the Divisional Forest Office in Khulna or use a tour guide.
River Cruises: Bangladesh is a riverine nation. Its origin, culture and the daily life of millions are intriguingly intertwined with the cycle of its three mighty rivers, the Padma (Ganges), Meghna and Jamuna (Brahmaputra). A river cruise down Dhaka's Buriganga River is greatly recommended to all tourists if they truly want to fell and experience up-close, the Bangladeshi river life.
There are various tour and cruise operators that offer various packaged river cruises and adventure tours of different duarations to tourist according to their needs. There are cruises, from day long tour down the Buriganga to week long tours to the Sundarbans. For more information on planning and booking on tours please visit these websites www.contic.com or www.guidetours.com
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