Anonymous
Post 09/12/2018 18:06     Subject: Is it safe to travel to Bangladesh?
Anonymous wrote:Ask your sister in law what would be suitable to wear. You can purchase ready made clothing relatively cheaply once you get there. A burka is not necessary but modest clothing is advised. And be alert in public places. The concept of personal space is very different and men may try to brush up against you.


Not if you are obviously with your husband they won’t.
Anonymous
Post 09/12/2018 17:58     Subject: Is it safe to travel to Bangladesh?
Ask your sister in law what would be suitable to wear. You can purchase ready made clothing relatively cheaply once you get there. A burka is not necessary but modest clothing is advised. And be alert in public places. The concept of personal space is very different and men may try to brush up against you.
Anonymous
Post 09/12/2018 17:50     Subject: Is it safe to travel to Bangladesh?
Anonymous wrote:I would recommend reading more about Bangladesh. Grab a travel guide and read it cover to cover (Lonely Planet Bangladesh would be fine).

It will cover:
What you should wear to be culturally respectful
Travel concerns
Food concerns
I think they also have a "travel with children" section

People might stare at you. You won't die if people stare at you in a foreign country.

Does your husband have relatives who can't travel? I think you should figure out how to go.


+1 I've been to Bangladesh, and I've never seen anyone wear a Burqua but this book should help you with your questions (which are at the very basic level.)
Anonymous
Post 09/12/2018 17:50     Subject: Is it safe to travel to Bangladesh?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I would recommend reading more about Bangladesh. Grab a travel guide and read it cover to cover (Lonely Planet Bangladesh would be fine).

It will cover:
What you should wear to be culturally respectful
Travel concerns
Food concerns
I think they also have a "travel with children" section

People might stare at you. You won't die if people stare at you in a foreign country.

Does your husband have relatives who can't travel? I think you should figure out how to go.


OP here: Yes. His mother can't travel to the US because she's has a fear of flying. I am thinking to bring ramen noddles and dry snacks and eat those while I am in Bangladesh. I hope his family doesn't freak out that I can't eat spicy food.






Uh I thought you were sensitive to gluten....ramen is basically pure gluten!!!
Anonymous
Post 09/12/2018 17:44     Subject: Is it safe to travel to Bangladesh?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Be careful whose advice you take. My husband is also from Bangladesh. The family members who haven’t been back in a long time really don’t understand how much more conservative and dangerous it has become. There’s no way in hell I’d wear a burkha myself but PP is right that they are common there now. It’s a sad story of retreating from secular government.

I wouldn’t take a small child myself. You’re going to constantly be on edge about food sanitation.


OP here: Thanks. This is my biggest concern. My husband hasn't been back to Bangladesh in over 8 years. His mother was here for our wedding 6 years ago and that's the last time he has seen his mother. They're very close but unfortunately we didn't have the funds to travel to Bangladesh or the time to take off from grad school. We're both finally finished with grad school now and can afford a trip to Bangladesh. His mother doesn't want to come to the US because she gets travel sickness and she's afraid to fly. She's also afraid to fly alone and there's no one in his family who can accompany her on the trip. I am very hesitant about this trip and my husband is NOT understanding. He basically told me he will divorce me if I don't go on the trip! I really do want to meet his family. I have only met his mother. He has a sister, brother and nephew I really want to meet.




OP, it's hard to tell if your DH is being unreasonable here. Meeting family is a huge deal in Bengali culture; like a lot of other old-world cultures there are certain rituals/observations that involve family for a marriage to be welcomed. I do sense that you seem to suffer excess anxiety, however, about this trip. If you haven't traveled extensively, there will be many aspects that will concern you. Could you spend a few days in DH's home village and then travel to Dhaka or another part of the country with his family members that isn't so remote?


Wait what?! Why would you suggest that OP visits Dhaka if she doesn't need to? This is bizarre advice and whats this BS about his family accepting the marriage? They have been married for 6 years according to OP. I don't think you're getting good advice here OP. Most likely it's from Indians who know nothing about Bangladesh.






Anonymous
Post 09/12/2018 16:33     Subject: Is it safe to travel to Bangladesh?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Be careful whose advice you take. My husband is also from Bangladesh. The family members who haven’t been back in a long time really don’t understand how much more conservative and dangerous it has become. There’s no way in hell I’d wear a burkha myself but PP is right that they are common there now. It’s a sad story of retreating from secular government.

I wouldn’t take a small child myself. You’re going to constantly be on edge about food sanitation.


OP here: Thanks. This is my biggest concern. My husband hasn't been back to Bangladesh in over 8 years. His mother was here for our wedding 6 years ago and that's the last time he has seen his mother. They're very close but unfortunately we didn't have the funds to travel to Bangladesh or the time to take off from grad school. We're both finally finished with grad school now and can afford a trip to Bangladesh. His mother doesn't want to come to the US because she gets travel sickness and she's afraid to fly. She's also afraid to fly alone and there's no one in his family who can accompany her on the trip. I am very hesitant about this trip and my husband is NOT understanding. He basically told me he will divorce me if I don't go on the trip! I really do want to meet his family. I have only met his mother. He has a sister, brother and nephew I really want to meet.




OP, it's hard to tell if your DH is being unreasonable here. Meeting family is a huge deal in Bengali culture; like a lot of other old-world cultures there are certain rituals/observations that involve family for a marriage to be welcomed. I do sense that you seem to suffer excess anxiety, however, about this trip. If you haven't traveled extensively, there will be many aspects that will concern you. Could you spend a few days in DH's home village and then travel to Dhaka or another part of the country with his family members that isn't so remote?
Anonymous
Post 09/12/2018 16:03     Subject: Is it safe to travel to Bangladesh?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Be careful whose advice you take. My husband is also from Bangladesh. The family members who haven’t been back in a long time really don’t understand how much more conservative and dangerous it has become. There’s no way in hell I’d wear a burkha myself but PP is right that they are common there now. It’s a sad story of retreating from secular government.

I wouldn’t take a small child myself. You’re going to constantly be on edge about food sanitation.


OP here: Thanks. This is my biggest concern. My husband hasn't been back to Bangladesh in over 8 years. His mother was here for our wedding 6 years ago and that's the last time he has seen his mother. They're very close but unfortunately we didn't have the funds to travel to Bangladesh or the time to take off from grad school. We're both finally finished with grad school now and can afford a trip to Bangladesh. His mother doesn't want to come to the US because she gets travel sickness and she's afraid to fly. She's also afraid to fly alone and there's no one in his family who can accompany her on the trip. I am very hesitant about this trip and my husband is NOT understanding. He basically told me he will divorce me if I don't go on the trip! I really do want to meet his family. I have only met his mother. He has a sister, brother and nephew I really want to meet.




Oh boy I feel your pain. Us not making big international trips regularly is a huge problem for my in laws too. Luckily most of my husband’s family has left the country. But only after some family members were killed in terrorist acts. But, DH’s parents are from exactly the cities mentioned in the State Dept warning posted here, and sounds like that’s not where you’ll be going.
Anonymous
Post 09/12/2018 15:58     Subject: Is it safe to travel to Bangladesh?
Anonymous wrote:Be careful whose advice you take. My husband is also from Bangladesh. The family members who haven’t been back in a long time really don’t understand how much more conservative and dangerous it has become. There’s no way in hell I’d wear a burkha myself but PP is right that they are common there now. It’s a sad story of retreating from secular government.

I wouldn’t take a small child myself. You’re going to constantly be on edge about food sanitation.


OP here: Thanks. This is my biggest concern. My husband hasn't been back to Bangladesh in over 8 years. His mother was here for our wedding 6 years ago and that's the last time he has seen his mother. They're very close but unfortunately we didn't have the funds to travel to Bangladesh or the time to take off from grad school. We're both finally finished with grad school now and can afford a trip to Bangladesh. His mother doesn't want to come to the US because she gets travel sickness and she's afraid to fly. She's also afraid to fly alone and there's no one in his family who can accompany her on the trip. I am very hesitant about this trip and my husband is NOT understanding. He basically told me he will divorce me if I don't go on the trip! I really do want to meet his family. I have only met his mother. He has a sister, brother and nephew I really want to meet.


Anonymous
Post 09/12/2018 15:56     Subject: Re:Is it safe to travel to Bangladesh?
+1 on bringing lots of gifts
Anonymous
Post 09/12/2018 15:50     Subject: Is it safe to travel to Bangladesh?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Your husband escaped that shithole. Why would you want to go?


Perhaps they want to visit his family you dumb ass.


Then bring the family here.
Anonymous
Post 09/12/2018 15:34     Subject: Is it safe to travel to Bangladesh?
Be careful whose advice you take. My husband is also from Bangladesh. The family members who haven’t been back in a long time really don’t understand how much more conservative and dangerous it has become. There’s no way in hell I’d wear a burkha myself but PP is right that they are common there now. It’s a sad story of retreating from secular government.

I wouldn’t take a small child myself. You’re going to constantly be on edge about food sanitation.
Anonymous
Post 09/12/2018 15:25     Subject: Is it safe to travel to Bangladesh?
Anonymous wrote:Your husband escaped that shithole. Why would you want to go?


Perhaps they want to visit his family you dumb ass.
Anonymous
Post 09/12/2018 15:13     Subject: Is it safe to travel to Bangladesh?
Your husband escaped that shithole. Why would you want to go?
Anonymous
Post 09/12/2018 14:41     Subject: Re:Is it safe to travel to Bangladesh?
Here's what the State Department has to say about travel to Bangladesh:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/bangladesh-travel-advisory.html

Anonymous
Post 09/11/2018 22:06     Subject: Re:Is it safe to travel to Bangladesh?
Bangladeshi American here too. Just wear salwar kameez or a long loose shirt that covers your butt and pants. Bring boxed food. People are going to be offended that you don’t eat anything bc eating is the main form of socializing among Bengali’s. Bring lots of gifts for people to make up for it. American beauty and skin care products are a big hit and bringing nice things for babies and little kids goes a long way. E.g., my mom bought a pack and play for a cousin’s baby and they loved it.