Professional Documents
Culture Documents
BANGLADESH
A P E A C E C O R P S P U B L I C AT I O N
FOR N E W V OLU NTE E RS
October 2005
A W E LC O M E LETTE R
Greetings from Bangladesh!
2 PEACE CORPS
TAB LE O F C O NTE NTS
Map of Bangladesh
A Welcome Letter 1
Packing List 83
Pre-departure Checklist 89
The Peace Corps did not reestablish a program in the area till
November 1998, when the first group of Volunteers to serve in
Bangladesh arrived in Dhaka, the capital. With a tremendous
need to improve the English language skills of Bangladeshi
teachers, Volunteers initially worked exclusively as English
teachers at primary-teacher training institutes. Two more
groups of Volunteers arrived over the next three years, and
Peace Corps/Bangladesh was beginning to establish its roots
when the events of September 11, 2001, created concern for
the safety of Americans living abroad. When political tensions
heated up prior to Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections in
October 2001, Peace Corps/Bangladesh decided to suspend
operations. But less than a year later, in August 2002, a small
8 PEACE CORPS
NOTES
Economy
12 PEACE CORPS
crops, but wheat and tea are assuming greater importance.
Manufacturing of ready-made garments provides employment
for more than 1.5 million people, many of them women, and
generates nearly 80 percent of the country’s export earnings.
Women provide about one-quarter of the earned income, fre-
quently aided by microcredit loans from the Grameen Bank,
the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee, small non-
governmental organizations, and other innovative credit
sources.
Most of the country is low lying and flat, forming the delta of
three great rivers: the Ganges, the Brahmaputra, and the
Meghna. These rivers often change course, resulting in a com-
plex pattern of waterways crisscrossing the land. There are
low hills in the northeast and the southeast, where the land
rises to almost 900 meters. Every year a third of the low-lying
land becomes flooded, making communications and farming
difficult, though the flooding results in a regularly replenished
fertile alluvial soil. The region is also prone to earthquakes
and cyclones. A cyclone that hit the southeast in 1991 caused
massive damage. The most significant recent earthquake
occurred in 1997, causing considerable damage in Chittagong.
Environment
16 PEACE CORPS
NOTES
www.countrywatch.com
On this site, you can learn anything from what time it is in
Dhaka to how to convert from the dollar to the taka. Just click
on Bangladesh and go from there.
www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations
Visit this site for general travel advice about almost any coun-
try in the world.
www.cyberschoolbus.un.org/infonation/info.asp
This United Nations site allows you to search for statistical
information for member states of the UN.
www.worldinformation.com
This site provides an additional source of current and histori-
cal information about 228 countries.
www.rpcv.org
This is the site of the National Peace Corps Association, made
up of returned Volunteers. On this site you can find links to all
the Web pages of the “friends of” groups for most countries of
service, made up of former Volunteers who served in those
countries. There are also regional groups who frequently get
together for social events and local volunteer activities.
http://rpcvwebring.netfirms.com
This site is known as the Returned Peace Corps Volunteer
Web Ring. A former Volunteer who served in Kenya maintains
it. Browse the Web ring and see what former Volunteers are
saying about their service.
www.peacecorpswriters.org
This site is hosted by a group of returned Volunteer writers. It
is a monthly online publication of essays and Volunteer
accounts of their Peace Corps service.
20 PEACE CORPS
www.joesvideos.com/sarah/bangladesh
To see some snapshots of Bangladesh, check out this Web
page set up by the family of a Bangladesh Volunteer.
www.citechco.net
The site of one of the major Internet service providers in
Bangladesh, a company owned by the Grameen Bank. The
bank’s innovative concept of microloans has provided the poor
in general and women in particular with the means to start
small businesses, starting a worldwide trend.
www.bangladesh.net/observer
Site of the Bangladesh Observer
www.independent-bangladesh.com
Site of the Independent
www.dailystarnews.com
Site of the Daily Star
www.webbangladesh.com
A Bangladeshi search engine
www.bangladeshinfo.com
A Bangladeshi Web portal
www.bangla2000.com
A Bangladeshi Web portal
www.banglacricket.com
A site for cricket fans
www.adb.org
Asian Development Bank
www.fao.org
Food and Agriculture Organization
www.ilo.org
International Labour Organization
www.unicef.org
United Nations Children’s Fund
www.undp.org
United Nations Development Programme
www.unhcr.ch
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
www.worldbank-bangladesh.org
Site of the World Bank’s Dhaka office
www.who.int
World Health Organization
Recommended Books
1. Collins, Larry, and Dominique Lapierre. Freedom at
Midnight. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1975.
22 PEACE CORPS
4. Monan, Jim. Bangladesh: The Strength to Succeed.
Herndon, Va.: Stylus Publishing, 1990.
Mail
Mail becomes a very important lifeline, especially in the begin-
ning when you are adjusting to a new culture, a new language,
and a new work situation. Unfortunately, however, mail serv-
ice between the United States and Bangladesh can be erratic.
Volunteers report that while most letters and packages even-
tually arrive, they can take anywhere from a few days to sev-
eral months to reach you. You can help improve the chances
of a speedy arrival by asking family and friends to write “Via
Airmail” or “Par Avion” on their letters. You might also want to
ask people to number their letters so you can keep track of
whether any have been lost.
Peace Corps
House 10F Road 82
Gulshan 2
Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
Telephones
Telephone communications can be frustrating in
Bangladesh—land lines between towns are not always reliable,
and you may have difficulties getting through. However, cell-
phone service is developing rapidly, even in rural areas.
Because of heightened concern worldwide over the safety and
security of Americans abroad, Peace Corps/Bangladesh
recently decided to provide all its Volunteers with a cellphone,
which can be used to call any other cellphone in the country.
Volunteers are expected to use their cellphone for Peace
Corps-related purposes only and to maintain it in good condi-
tion.
26 PEACE CORPS
message and another rate for receiving messages. If you do
not already have an e-mail account that you can access over-
seas, you may want to get one before you come to
Bangladesh.
28 PEACE CORPS
and from work, locally available recreation and entertainment,
and incidental expenses such as postage, film, and reading
materials. In Bangladesh, Volunteers receive a small additional
allowance to purchase a couple of outfits made in the local
style of dress.
30 PEACE CORPS
It is also considered offensive to offer things or make gestures
with your left hand. Similarly, it is important to try to use your
right hand to accept letters, pass papers in the workplace, pay
for things, etc. The only exception to this is at mealtimes,
when food is passed with the left hand as the right hand is
normally covered with rice and dal. In pre-service training, we
will discuss strategies for left-handed Volunteers to be cultur-
ally sensitive in a right-handed culture.
Transportation
32 PEACE CORPS
is by far the safest method of travel in Bangladesh, though the
concept of walking for pleasure is not widely understood
(probably because it is too hot and muggy most of the year).
When walking, one should never assume that traffic will come
from only one direction, even on one side of a divided roadway.
Social Activities
In trying to fit into the local culture, you will inevitably retain
your own cultural identity, but there are behaviors you can
adopt that will allow you to assimilate more easily and feel
more comfortable in social and professional situations. A pro-
fessional demeanor is very important. Though you will be in
Bangladesh as a Volunteer with the Peace Corps, you will be
working as a representative of a Bangladeshi agency or organi-
zation and will be expected to dress and behave accordingly.
Inappropriate dress may be construed as a sign of disrespect
for one’s colleagues and can reflect badly not only on you but
on the Peace Corps as an assistance organization. However,
we can only provide you with guidelines; when you arrive in
Bangladesh, you will make your own observations that will
give these guidelines meaning.
34 PEACE CORPS
with see-through fabrics, and tight T-shirts, sleeveless tops, or
low-cut garments will attract unwelcome attention. Shorts are
inappropriate except when you are alone in your home or at
an expatriate facility in Dhaka. Traditional dress for
Bangladeshi women consists of either a shalwar kameez (for
younger, unmarried women) or a sari (for married women),
but these distinctions do not apply so rigidly to Western
women. A shalwar kameez consists of long, baggy pants worn
with a loose-fitting tunic and a long scarf (orna) draped
around the front to cover one’s chest. A wide variety of shal-
war kameez outfits are available for 500 taka (about $10). In
Dhaka, because of the their popularity among Western
women, larger sizes are being made for sale off the rack, but
you can also have them made to order by local tailors (bring a
favorite pair of pants for copying by the tailor to get the right
fit). Women assigned to rural areas often wear saris, which
require a petticoat and blouse, available locally in all colors
and sizes for about 100 taka (about $1.75). A basic sari costs
about 300 taka ($5), but one made of hand-painted or embroi-
dered silk could cost several thousand taka.
Personal Safety
36 PEACE CORPS
Rewards and Frustrations
“From the moment you step out of the airport terminal, you
should expect to be mobbed by young Bangladeshis staring
at you and fighting to help you with your bags in return for
some baksheesh. Expect to be stared at with unflinching,
close-up stares. When you stop anywhere in public, such as
at a bus stand, a crowd will encircle you and stare. You are
different from them and they are curious. Plus, the concept
of personal space is unknown here, and you may feel claus-
trophobic in public places.”
—Peace Corps Volunteer
38 PEACE CORPS
that you can never truly prepare yourself for the reality of
this country. Keeping an open mind will help with the harsh
transitions and vast differences. Don't take on more than
you can handle and allow yourself some comforts or breaks
when you need them. It can be hard to say no to constant
requests and demands at times, but as Volunteers we do
have control over our lives. Survival is an accomplishment
and many rewards will come along with that.”
—Wendy Cipolaro
Technical Training
Technical training will prepare you to work in Bangladesh by
building on the skills you already have and helping you devel-
op new skills appropriate to the needs of the country and your
work assignment. Training emphasizes learning how to trans-
fer the skills you have to the community in which you will
serve as a Volunteer.
Language Training
As a Peace Corps Volunteer, you will find that language skills
are the key to personal and professional satisfaction during
your service. These skills are critical to your job performance,
they help you integrate into your community, and they can
ease your personal adaptation to the new surroundings.
Therefore, language training is the heart of the training pro-
gram, and you must successfully meet minimum language
requirements to complete training and become a Volunteer.
Cross-Cultural Training
Living with a Bangladeshi host family during pre-service train-
ing is designed to ease your transition to life at your site.
Sharing meals, spending free time, and celebrating holidays
with your Bangladeshi host family during training are excel-
lent opportunities to practice speaking Bangla and to learn
about the cultural differences between Americans and
42 PEACE CORPS
Bangladeshis. Many Volunteers form strong and lasting friend-
ships with their host families.
Health Training
During pre-service training, you will be given basic medical
training and information by the Peace Corps medical officer,
who will also be available to deal with any medical emergen-
cies that arise. You will be expected to practice preventive
health care and to take responsibility for your own health by
adhering to all medical policies. Trainees are required to
attend all medical sessions. The topics include preventive
health measures and minor and major medical issues that you
might encounter while in Bangladesh. Nutrition, mental
health, safety and security, setting up a safe living compound,
and how to avoid HIV/AIDS and other STDs are also covered.
Safety Training
During the safety training sessions, you will learn how to adopt a
lifestyle that reduces your risks at home, at work, and during
your travels. You will also learn appropriate, effective strategies
for coping with unwanted attention and learn about your individ-
ual responsibility for promoting safety throughout your service.
44 PEACE CORPS
NOTES
The Peace Corps will provide you with all the necessary inoc-
ulations, medications, and information to stay healthy. Upon
your arrival in Bangladesh, you will receive a medical hand-
book. At the end of training, you will receive a medical kit
with supplies for taking care of mild illnesses and first-aid
needs.
48 PEACE CORPS
typhoid fever. Your medical officer will discuss specific stan-
dards for water and food preparation in Bangladesh during
pre-service training.
50 PEACE CORPS
Tinactin (antifungal cream)
Tweezers
If your dental exam was done more than a year ago, or if your
physical exam is more than two years old, contact the Office
of Medical Services to find out whether you need to update
your records. If your dentist or Peace Corps dental consultant
has recommended that you undergo dental treatment or
repair, you must complete that work and make sure your den-
tist sends requested confirmation reports or X-rays to the
Office of Medical Services.
If you wear eyeglasses, bring two pairs with you—a pair and a
spare. If a pair breaks, the Peace Corps will replace it, using
the information your doctor in the United States provided on
the eyeglasses form during your examination. The Peace
Corps discourages you from using contact lenses during your
service to reduce your risk of developing a serious infection or
other eye disease. Most Peace Corps countries do not have
appropriate water and sanitation to support eye care with the
use of contact lenses. The Peace Corps will not supply or
replace contact lenses or associated solutions unless an oph-
thalmologist has recommended their use for a specific medical
condition and the Peace Corps’ Office of Medical Services has
given approval.
52 PEACE CORPS
Safety and Security—Our Partnership
The Peace Corps makes every effort to give Volunteers the tools
they need to function in the safest and most secure way possible,
because working to maximize the safety and security of
Volunteers is our highest priority. Not only do we provide you
with training and tools to prepare for the unexpected, but we
teach you to identify and manage the risks you may encounter.
54 PEACE CORPS
Strategies to reduce the risk/impact of assault:
• Make local friends
• Make sure your appearance is respectful of local customs;
don’t draw negative attention to yourself by wearing
inappropriate clothing
• Get to know local officials, police, and neighbors
• Travel with someone whenever possible
• Avoid known high crime areas
• Limit alcohol consumption
56 PEACE CORPS
may involve one or more Volunteer/trainee victims. For exam-
ple, if two Volunteers are robbed at the same time and place,
this is classified as one robbery incident.
1
The average number of incidents is in parentheses above the bar and equals
the average number of reported incidents for each year from 1999–2003.
2
Incidence rate equals the number of assaults per 100 Volunteers and trainees
per year (V/T years). Since most sexual assaults occur against females, rates
of rapes and minor sexual assaults are per 100 female V/T years. Numbers of
incidents are approximate due to rounding.
3
Due to a temporary suspension of the Peace Corps program in Bangladesh in
2001–2002, the data reflects only the time in which Peace Corps V/Ts were in-
country.
Source data on incidents are drawn from Assault Notification. Surveillance
System (ANSS) and Epidemiologic Surveillance System (ESS), as of 7/29/04.
58 PEACE CORPS
own choices. But if you do not heed the expectations about
dress and behavior, you will compromise not only your own
safety but possibly that of other Volunteers. That being said,
foreigners have a lot of leeway, and you will eventually become
better equipped to decide what you absolutely must conform
to and where you can take liberties without compromising
your reputation and thereby your safety.
60 PEACE CORPS
addition, keep your money out of sight by using an undergar-
ment money pouch, the kind that hangs around your neck and
stays hidden under your shirt or inside your coat. Do not keep
your money in outside pockets of backpacks, in coat pockets,
or in fanny packs. And always walk with a companion at night.
62 PEACE CORPS
NOTES
66 PEACE CORPS
When a girl is born her birth is rarely celebrated and no call
for prayer is given, as it would be for a boy. From early child-
hood, girls are made aware that, unlike their brothers, they
are liabilities rather than assets to the family. In a country of
great scarcity, what little is available—from food to clothing to
education to health care—is offered first to males. Over 50
percent of girls ages six to seven months have stunted growth,
and the death rate for girls ages one to four is 15 per 1,000,
compared with 12 per 1,000 for boys of the same age.
68 PEACE CORPS
Volunteer Comments
Volunteer Comments
70 PEACE CORPS
think sometimes my resemblance to Bangladeshis makes
people feel more at ease with me. Other times, however, I
feel as if I’m regarded as less important than the white-
skinned, blue-eyed, blond-haired person sitting next to me.
So how do I deal with all of this nonsense? I try to keep an
open mind and understand their perspective.”
Volunteer Comments
72 PEACE CORPS
the United States. You may serve for two years without meet-
ing another homosexual or bisexual Volunteer, and you may
not get adequate emotional support from other Volunteers for
concerns related to your sexual orientation. Relationships with
host country nationals can happen, but as with all cross-cultur-
al relationships, they may not be easy. Lesbians, like all
American women, are likely to have to deal with constant
questions about boyfriends, marriage, and sex. Wearing an
“engagement ring” may help. Gay men may have to deal with
machismo: talk of sexual conquests, girl watching, and dirty
jokes.
Volunteer Comments
74 PEACE CORPS
frequently as they ask how many brothers and sisters you
have. Many assume that all Americans are Christians, and
Volunteers who are not Christian may experience some chal-
lenges. Jews in particular may encounter negative attitudes.
Although Muslims and Hindus in Bangladesh interact freely on
a professional level, there are some animosities between
Hindu and Muslim communities. People who are atheists or
seem ambiguous about their religious identity may be regard-
ed as foolish or morally reprehensible, as rejecting the religion
one is born into is considered a serious matter. Some
Volunteers without a specific religion have found calling them-
selves “humanist” to be a good compromise.
Volunteer Comment
78 PEACE CORPS
What should I bring as gifts for Bangladeshi friends and my
host family?
This is not a requirement. A token of friendship is sufficient.
Some gift suggestions include knickknacks for the house; pic-
tures, books, or calendars of American scenes; souvenirs from
your area; hard candies that will not melt or spoil; or photos
to give away.
80 PEACE CORPS
NOTES
For Women
• Several cotton dresses with sleeves or skirts and tops
• At least three pairs of lightweight, baggy pants
• Several loose-fitting T-shirts
• Enough cotton underwear for two years (i.e., at least
eight bras and 12 pairs of underpants)
• Cotton nightgowns (can easily be made in Bangladesh)
• Two sweaters or sweatshirts and two pairs of jeans or
sweatpants for colder weather
• One lightweight, waterproof jacket or poncho
• One warm jacket for the winter season and travel
• Cotton socks
• One swimsuit (not available locally)
• One outfit for formal occasions with suitable shoes
For Men
• At least three pairs of lightweight cotton pants
• Several lightweight cotton shirts, both long and short
sleeved
• One pair of jeans or other durable pants
• One pair of baggy shorts
• Several cotton T-shirts
• At least 12 pairs of underpants (boxers are cooler)
• Two or three cotton undershirts, if you wear them
(available locally)
• Swimming trunks
• Pajamas (if you wear them)
• Two sweaters or sweatshirts for colder weather
• One lightweight, waterproof jacket or poncho
• One warm jacket for the winter season and travel
• A jacket and tie for formal occasions with suitable shoes
84 PEACE CORPS
Shoes
• Flip-flops and sandals (slip-on sandals are good for easy
removal when entering someone’s home; smaller sizes
can be purchased cheaply in Bangladesh)
• Sneakers (available locally in smaller sizes)
• One pair of dress shoes for formal occasions
Kitchen
• Plastic food storage bags of all sizes (also good for pro-
tecting papers and other items during the rainy season)
• Sturdy water bottle (e.g., Nalgene brand, available at
outdoor stores)
• Can opener
Miscellaneous
• Film (all kinds of film are available in Dhaka, but the
selection outside the capital may be limited)
• Pocket-size flashlight (useful during power cuts and for
travel to places without electricity)
• Tape player or Walkman (also available in Dhaka) and
your favorite CDs or cassettes
86 PEACE CORPS
NOTES
Family
❒ Notify family that they can call the Peace Corps’ Office
of Special Services at any time if there is a critical ill-
ness or death of a family member (telephone number:
800.424.8580, extension 1470; after-hours duty officer:
202.638.2574).
❒ Give the Peace Corps’ On the Home Front handbook to
family and friends.
Passport/Travel
❒ Forward to the Peace Corps travel office all paperwork
for the Peace Corps passport and visas.
❒ Verify that luggage meets the size and weight limits for
international travel.
❒ Obtain a personal passport if you plan to travel after
your service ends. (Your Peace Corps passport will
expire three months after you finish your service, so if
you plan to travel longer, you will need a regular passport.)
Medical/Health
❒ Complete any needed dental and medical work.
❒ If you wear glasses, bring two pairs.
❒ Arrange to bring a six-month supply of all medications
(including birth control pills) you are currently taking.
Personal Papers
❒ Bring a copy of your certificate of marriage or divorce.
Voting
❒ Register to vote in the state of your home of record.
(Many state universities consider voting and payment
of state taxes as evidence of residence in that state.)
❒ Obtain a voter registration card and take it with you
overseas.
❒ Arrange to have an absentee ballot forwarded to you
overseas.
Personal Effects
❒ Purchase personal property insurance to extend from
the time you leave your home for service overseas until
the time you complete your service and return to the
United States.
90 PEACE CORPS
Financial Management
❒ Obtain student loan deferment forms from the lender or
loan service.
❒ Execute a power of attorney for the management of
your property and business.
❒ Arrange for deductions from your readjustment
allowance to pay alimony, child support, and other
debts through the Office of Volunteer Financial
Operations at 800.424.8580, extension 1770.
❒ Place all important papers—mortgages, deeds, stocks,
and bonds—in a safe deposit box or with an attorney or
other caretaker.
For Direct/
Questions Toll-free Local
About: Staff Extension Number
Responding to Office of
an Invitation Placement
Europe,
Mediterranean,
and Asia Ext. 1875 202.692.1875
Medical Handled by a
Reimbursements Subcontractor 800.818.8772
94 PEACE CORPS
P EAC E C O R P S
Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps Headquarters
1111 20th Street NW · Washington, DC 20526 · www.peacecorps.gov · 1-800-424-8580