The transit in Dhaka was interesting, to say the least…
Upon landing in Dhaka on Biman Bangladesh Airlines from Bangkok, we were bussed to the terminal where I followed the signs for “visa on arrival”. Sure enough, just inside the passport control area was a special desk. I presented the form I filled out, but probably made one mistake: I ticked off “transit” instead of “tourist”.
Indeed I was just transiting, but the transit visa process is quite different in Bangladesh. Noting I was in transit, I was directed to a transit desk upstairs. I went up and found myself in a large, dingy room with a counter at the far end.
I approached the counter and noted that I was in transit to London. The gentleman (I found all ground staff in Dhaka were men) asked me if I wanted to sleep in the terminal or a hotel. I told him that I would be staying at a hotel.
He handed me a red token for an airport hotel Biman Bangladesh Airlines does business with and told me to sit down and have a seat.
The Wait
An hour passed. Every 10 minutes or so the man would signal to me to wait. Apparently a transit document was being prepared.
Meanwhile, a friend/client of mine originally from Dhaka had been in touch and arranged for a pick-up for me and dinner with his family. I thought it would be a great opportunity to experience a bit of Bangladeshi culture. I was told to proceed out through immigration and a driver would be waiting for me with a placard bearing my name.
Finally another man collected me. He had a note in Bengali and escorted me back to the visa on arrival office downstairs. Rather than pay the $51 tourist visa fee, I was charged only $21.
Then, in a quintessential display of white privilege (or what would you call it?), I was led to the front of immigration line, bypassing over 100 people. My escort elbowed his way to the front, pushing others away and signaled for me to do the same…
I was stamped into the country.
While everyone else was subjected to customs baggage screenings, I was escorted out, bypassing it. Outside I (tried) to explain to my escort that I would be meeting someone but he did not understand. He led me to a hotel shuttle and instructed me to get in.
When I did not jump in, he was at a loss for words. Thankfully, the driver found me and whisked me off. But the Biman rep chased after us and demanded a business card from the driver. The driver explained that I was having dinner.
We drove off. My goodness is traffic horrible in Dhaka. It took an hour to cover the short distance from the airport into town. We stopped at Gloria Jean’s for some coffee.
All this time the driver’s phone kept ringing. It was Biman. They were confused and stated that I had to remain under “their control” during my transit. My driver let his boss (uncle of my client) deal with it.
I toured Dhaka a bit, visiting the site of the 1952 rebellion against Pakistan over the elimination of Bengali as an official language. The phone continued to ring.
Biman called the police and ratted me out. Now immigration authorities were involved.
My hosts explained that we were just out to dinner and promised to return to me. What a mess!
Throughout dinner the immigration police continued to call. Why wasn’t I back yet?
After dinner I was returned to the transit hotel, a dive hotel near the airport. Immigration authorities were informed and peace again restored. The chase was off.
The Lesson
Note: if you are transiting Dhaka and want freedom, just check off “tourist” instead of “transit”. Amazingly, the resources of the immigration authorities were directed toward me. If you are in transit, you are under the authority and supervision of Biman.
It was a good article until you made the “white privilege” comment and then I stopped reading.
I guess the prior administration convinced you like many others to feel worthless as well.
Oh look, white privilege
@USAJerry
I’m not sure that is the best term, but what would you call it? We can’t call it foreign privilege because everyone in line was a foreigner.
This happened because your escort knew the staff at immigration too well and being a Biman employee himself he enjoyed the “privilege” to push away “commoners” at any time. Classy airlines job!
That is just adorable that USAJerry felt the need to tell us all he stopped reading! I suppose this is where we ask if he needs a safe space. 😉
This stuff can happened to anybody (named Matthew, that is…)
Being an Bangladeshi, I was curious to follow the report(s) of this tour.
Bureaucracy is bit vogon-ish here; however, I can’t fault them too much here considering issues related to security. I think I understand their concern for ‘missing’ you. Hope you enjoyed other bits except immigration and traffic (and heat probably).
small correction: it should be 1952 in place of 1962.
Thanks! Fixed the date.
You Are a dick
Similar “privilege” happened to me once in Jakarta. I was on a business travel going to Jakarta to meet a customer. During our email exchange to schedule the meeting I was asked for my flight information which I thought was a normal request since they wanted to know when I was arriving in town. Couple days before my trip I got an email from the customer saying they had arranged transportation for me from the airport to the hotel I was staying. Again, nice gesture. Well, fast forward when I landed in Jakarta I was met by someone at the door plane who insisted to carry my briefcase and asked me for my passport. I was a bit confused but he had a sign with my name and said Mr. XYZ (my customer) had asked him to take care of me. From that moment on I was escorted all the way through the airport, my visa on arrival was taken care of, my luggage was picked out of the baggage claim area and I saw myself just walking without saying a word or presenting any document to anyone. I was then placed inside a car with a driver and taken to my hotel. Wow!!!! Talk about service but I was a bit concerned to have someone I never met before carrying my passport away from me and just saying he would take care of me.
Good lesson, but it sure does make for interesting reading. Different cultures.
I kept waiting for the part with the police chase…
A virtual chase.
I stuck with you through the craziness of the Ethiopian mistake fare but with the “white privilege” comment I’m done.
For all the folks bashing his comment on white privilege, how else do you explain/justify the scenario?
White privlege. You mean the same privlege that you used to bully an airline and its employees from Ethiopia. You are such a hypocrite. Feel guilty in Dhaka but used it in BKK.
I don’t feel guilty about either situation.
It couldn’t have been too much of a white privilege if the immigration police were hunting you down.
Fair point.
Matt, I think you have mistaken the situation with “having white privilege” and being “led to the front”. Because you have purchased a tourist/transit visa, you do not need to queue in the lines any more(as others are waiting to get entry permit), it was right for him to instruct you to bypass the line and proceed directly to exit the immigration area. I am Asian, and the last time I visited Dahka I was also confused by that. It is just the way things are set up there, chaotic, yes, but definitely not because you are white.
interesting how immigration keeps track of everyone there?!!Wish we had some of that in the USA!!Once u get into the US you are good to gooo forever!!!no one hunts you down or keeps track!!!
I’m about outta here. A police chase?, no wait a minute, a “virtual” police chase. Add to that, all the click bait on reviews going as far back as 4 years ago. You’re becoming a joke.
Lord, give me strength!!!
If you’re going to be negative and chastise MATT for using a term that he felt appropriate to the explain his experience thru Bangladeshi Immigration Authorities, PLEASE stop reading and move on. Those of us who DO appreciate the informative narrative that comes with some humor at times, really don’t care to read about your disappointment, insults or threat of not following him again! Bye.. just leave, don’t need to be dramatic about, just exit this blog!
For we are here to learn about HIS experience and even share some of our own!
And to @JZ Thanks for sharing you point, we’re enlightened now on this procedure!