Tracked rides, official tickets and cash backups make Bangladesh easier to navigate
Install Uber and Pathao before arrival, but expect driver calls, severe traffic and pickup confusion around Dhaka airport.
Match the plate and app driver, never let a trip start before you are in the vehicle, and reject off-app fare changes. bKash is a resident mobile wallet, not a normal tourist setup: its official onboarding routes require Bangladeshi identity or expatriate documents. Carry taka in small notes, plus two physical bank cards, because card acceptance is concentrated in larger hotels, restaurants and shops. Book trains only through Bangladesh Railway's official Rail Sheba channels and keep the registered phone, ticket and matching photo ID with you.
Current official travel advice warns about unrest, flooding and travel to the Chittagong Hill Tracts, so check advice for the exact itinerary and avoid demonstrations.
Bangladesh's major local super app for tracked car and motorcycle booking in Dhaka and selected other cities.
A familiar English-language ride app for tracked cars, CNGs and motorcycles, with service types varying by Bangladeshi city.
A negotiated-fare ride marketplace used in Bangladesh, useful only as a secondary urban availability or price check.
The most dependable first catalog for restaurant and grocery delivery in supported Bangladeshi cities and neighborhoods.
A current local restaurant, grocery and daily-needs delivery alternative with a substantial Bangladesh user base.
Restaurant delivery inside the same Pathao app used for rides, useful where the entered Bangladesh address is covered.
The practical first map for saved places, urban navigation and live traffic across Bangladesh's main visitor destinations.
A useful first planner for reaching Dhaka metro stations and checking walking or road alternatives around the city.
The official Android card-management app for people who already use a physical Rapid Pass or Dhaka MRT card.
The practical first tool for simple Bangla text, speech and camera help, with exact features depending on the device.
Bangladesh Railway's official app for searching, paying for and downloading intercity train tickets.
A major Bangladesh booking catalog for intercity buses and passenger launches, with website access as an important backup.
Reliable mobile internet at better prices than most travel eSIMs, with polished iOS and Android apps and support for making and receiving phone calls.
One of the biggest travel eSIM brands, with a very large destination catalog.
Known for unlimited-data plans in many destinations, at a higher price per gigabyte.
Use an official carrier store and complete registration and activation before leaving the counter.
Best choice for broad coverage, including rural areas.
A solid alternative; compare current prepaid offers before buying.
Good-value option when price matters most.
The weakest network here; choose it only for a clear price advantage.
Good-value option when price matters most.
The essential apps for Bangladesh are Pathao, Uber, foodpanda, WhatsApp, Google Maps.
We've curated 14 apps across 9 categories for traveling in Bangladesh, including 8 essential apps.
Pathao is the top-rated ride hailing app in Bangladesh. Bangladesh's major local super app for tracked car and motorcycle booking in Dhaka and selected other cities.
Prepare entry, payments and city-specific transport before a complex trip
Use two ride apps, book scenic trains early, and keep cash beyond the cities
Arrange arrival and island transfers first, then add local apps only if your itinerary needs them
Use ride apps in Kathmandu, carry cash beyond cities, and verify every trekking permit
inDrive in the cities, cash for daily life, and official alerts for the road north
