Bangladesh
Location: South Asia
Film Commissions
Visas & Permits
Visas & Work Permits
Entry is subject to regulations from country of origin. Journalists and filmmakers need to apply for a journalist visa at least three weeks before departure.
Crew entering on Western passports as tourists are eligible to obtain visas on arrival, valid for stays of up to 30 days, although it is highly advisable for visas to be approved well in advance.
Please contact a local embassy, consulate or representative for more information. Alternatively, there are specialist companies that provide visa and immigration support to the media industry, and may be able to assist.
Film Location Permits
Filming in restricted areas and national parks requires special permission.
Customs
For productions looking to bring in film equipment, Bangladesh is not an ATA carnet country.
Clearing customs is generally a quick and easy process.
When to Film
When to Film
Bangladesh has three distinct seasons.
Summer (March to June) is hot and humid, the monsoon season (June to October) is cool and rainy, and winter (October to March) is cool and dry. The country is prone to annual cyclones and floods from April to December.
In Bangladesh, Ramadan is observed by the majority Muslim population, with some services closed during this period.
Public Holidays
Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Bangladesh.
Costs & VAT
Since little to no filming infrastructure exists in Bangladesh, all key crew, equipment and talent are best brought in from abroad. Mumbai and Bangkok are the closest major film production centres, and this can add considerably to the cost of shooting. Otherwise, local costs are inexpensive.
The standard VAT rate in Bangladesh, at the time of writing, is set at 15%.
Funding & Tax Incentives
At the time of writing, this country does not have any filming incentives. However, up-to-date information on global filming incentives may be found on the Entertainment Partners' Production Incentives Map.
Treaty Documents
At the time of writing, the UK does not have a trade agreement with this country. However, up-to-date information about UK trade agreements can be found on the GOV.UK website.