Domestic services are operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines (www.biman-airlines.com), GMG Airlines (www.gmgairlines.com) and United Airlines (www.uabdl.com). Regular flights are run between Dhaka and several other main towns. These are cheap, and most routes are served at least two or three times a week. Airline buses connect with terminals.

Domestic airports include Barisal, Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Jessore, Rajshahi and Sylhet.

BDT50.

Major river ports: Barisal, Chandpur, Dhaka, Khulna, Mongla and Narayanganj.

The country has about 8,433km (5,240 miles) of navigable waterways and water transport, if a little slow, is the least expensive method of getting around Bangladesh. Passages should be booked well in advance; for details, contact local port authorities. River services are operated by the Bangladesh Inland Waterway Transport Corporation (tel: (2) 955 9779; www.biwtc.gov.bd), which runs ‘Rocket' ferries and launches on a number of routes. A ferry operates from Dhaka to Khulna six times a week (journey time - 28 hours). Ferries can often be dangerously overcrowded.

A slow but efficient network, operated by Bangladesh Railway (tel: (2) 935 8634; www.railway.gov.bd), is limited by the geography of the country, but river ferries (see Getting Around by Water above) provide through links. Services are being upgraded. However, trains still occasionally derail and passengers have been injured. The main line is Dhaka-Chittagong, with several daily trains, some of which have air-conditioned cars. An inter-city express service is available between main towns.

Traffic drives on the left. Traffic is chaotic in urban areas and road safety is poor. There are frequent crashes caused by speeding and dangerous driving. Frequent river crossings make cross-country journeys lengthy.

Bus: The Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (tel: (2) 955 5553; www.brtc.gov.bd) provides a countrywide network of bus services.

Taxi: Available at airports and major hotels. Fares should always be agreed upon first.

Car hire: Not recommended, although cars may be hired at Dhaka airport or from major hotels. It is better to hire a car with driver.

Documentation: International Driving Permit required. Minimum age is 18.

There are bus services, which are usually very crowded and unreliable, in Dhaka, provided by the Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation. The Central Bus Station, known as Fulbaria or Gulistan, is on Station Road in the city centre; there are several other terminals for long-distance services. Buses and bus stations do not generally have signs in English. There are also an estimated 10,000 independent ‘auto-rickshaw' 3-wheeler taxis (avoid night-time use) and cycle rickshaws are ubiquitous. Conventional taxis are also available.

The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Dhaka to other major cities/towns in Bangladesh.

	Air	Road	Rail
Chittagong	0.35	6.00	6.00
Sylhet	0.30	5.00	7.00
Rajshahi	0.45	6.00	6.00
Rangpur	-	6.00	11.30