On this article, we offer a short explainer on enterprise etiquette in Bangladesh and ideas for enterprise interactions within the nation. Previous to that, we spotlight key options of Bangladesh, together with its location, local weather, panorama, and cultural and social traits.

The article is a part of our ongoing protection of Bangladesh’s financial system, enterprise, and commerce setting, which is gaining prominence on the radar of many Asia-focused traders. Earlier articles have mentioned the nation’s provide chain benefit, defined the authorized entity choices for international traders, addressed the fundamentals of opening a checking account right here, and detailed the mental property protections out there.

Location and inhabitants

Bangladesh is a small nation of roughly 148,000 sq. km positioned in South Asia. Its neighbors embrace India to the west, north, and northeast and Myanmar within the southeast, and it’s surrounded by the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean within the south.

Regardless of its dimension, Bangladesh is residence to 164 million individuals, making it one of the densely populated nations on the planet.

Local weather and geography       

The local weather is tropical, so it’s sizzling and humid for many of the 12 months, with a monsoon season from June to October, and a gentle winter which see temperatures get barely decrease. Throughout the monsoon season, it rains virtually on daily basis. The soil is extremely wealthy and fertile as a result of nation primarily being a big river delta.

Fifty-seven rivers, shaped by the snowmelt of the Himalayan mountain vary to the north, carry sediment filled with minerals all through the land on their manner right down to the Bay of Bengal. Individuals rely closely on these rivers for meals, agriculture, and transportation, so naturally, they play a task in Bangladesh’s arts, tradition, and delicacies too.

Economic system

Bangladesh is a Much less Economically Developed Nation, so poverty is ubiquitous. In 2016, the proportion of the inhabitants dwelling on lower than US $5.50 (2011 PPP) per day was about 84 %, in keeping with the World Financial institution. T

However, the nation has been on a gradual path to progress. It has a aggressive funding local weather, comparatively giant and younger labor market, and is bold to develop its agribusiness, garment and textiles, vitality, IT, and infrastructure sectors – for which it’s closely courting international traders and organising particular financial zones.

The nation’s client financial system additionally provides rising prospects, and Bangladesh’s GDP per capital earnings registered a 9 % progress in 2020.

Tradition

The nation has a wealthy cultural heritage, each previously as a part of the Bengal area and after its independence in 1971. Whereas the nation was based on a secular structure, the Islamic religion has a powerful affect on public life resulting from its predominance – 90 % of the Bangladeshi inhabitants identifies as Muslim. The remaining inhabitants practices Hinduism, Buddhism, or Christianity.

The inhabitants is comparatively homogenous – with about 98 % being ethnically Bengali.

Social traits

Utilizing indicators based mostly on Geert Hofstede’s fashionable mannequin for understanding cultural variations, we are able to acknowledge the next facets of Bangladesh society and cultural norms:

• Hierarchy within the office: Bangladesh has a excessive diploma of inequality and people in society usually settle for their place. As such, inside organizations, subordinates count on to be informed what to do by their superiors and superiors count on to be acknowledged and stored knowledgeable by their subordinates. When doing enterprise, it could be vital to speak immediately with the leaders of a corporation to resolve points. When interacting with these leaders, it is very important stay tactful and respectful, and chorus from overtly and explicitly difficult them. Disagreements ought to be dealt with privately. This ties into “the idea of face”.
• Work tradition and avoidance of ambiguity in social relations and outcomes: Points usually tend to be resolved by way of assertiveness and the exertion of 1’s affect, slightly than by way of compromise and cooperation, and there may be extra prone to be a tradition of working lengthy hours. Persons are resistant in the direction of change and dangerous habits however are nonetheless amenable sufficient. There are lots of inflexible social conventions to look at, and Bangladeshi society is usually conservative. Moreover, it is not uncommon apply to verbally categorical feelings, together with unfavorable ones like anger, as a result of individuals wish to keep management of conditions.
• Collectivist society: Bangladesh is a decidedly collectivist society. Right here, people are seen as being accountable for members of their bigger teams, together with prolonged members of the family and family members, mates, and even workers. Loyalty to individuals trumps loyalty to guidelines, concepts, and establishments. Bangladeshis often reside in multigenerational households with prolonged members of the family. Moreover, given the ubiquity of poverty, members of the center class and above usually have live-in home employees. This type of dwelling association each stems from and reinforces the sensation of belonging to a bigger group for which one is accountable.
• Tradition of restraint: Bangladesh has a tradition of restraint. Right here, individuals have a tendency to arrange for wet days, and thus, are usually extra inflexible and restrained of their habits. The environment in conferences tends to be extra severe, and jokes and heated discussions are sometimes saved for extra casual settings.

Enterprise etiquette and ideas

Greetings

Bengali, referred to as “Bangla,” to natives, is the official state language and spoken by greater than 98 % of the inhabitants. Nonetheless, as a result of reputation of Western and Indian media, many Bangladeshis may also communicate English and Hindi.

In enterprise settings, most Bangladeshis can communicate English. Interactions are usually initiated with “Good day”, “How are you?”, or “Salam”. If you’re up for a problem, the standard Bengali greeting is “As-salamu alaykum”, which implies “could peace be upon you” in Arabic, to which one responds “Wa alaykumu s-salam”, which implies “could peace be upon you as effectively”.

Contact, within the type of a smooth handshake, is extra frequent amongst members of the identical gender, whereas a well mannered nod is usually exchanged between members of the other gender. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a well mannered nod adopted by inserting one’s hand over their coronary heart stands out as the most applicable non-verbal greeting no matter gender. The best hand ought to be used to provide and obtain enterprise playing cards.

Enterprise apparel

Enterprise apparel in Bangladesh is usually conservative. Enterprise formal consists of enterprise fits in darkish colors for each genders. Enterprise informal for males features a button-down shirt with slacks or khaki pants, and for girls consists of the standard salwar kameez, or a shirt with a skirt or costume pants. Denims are simply starting to enter the realm of “enterprise informal”, so it’s best to keep away from sporting them in enterprise settings.

Places of work the place individuals go away their exterior sneakers on the door usually are not unusual – that is usually an Asian apply and often stems from a collective choice on the workplace, slightly than an imposed requirement for entry.

Enterprise interactions

Enterprise conferences ought to be scheduled prematurely to keep away from scheduling conflicts. The weekend in Bangladesh is on Friday and Saturday, so responses to emails ought to be anticipated accordingly. A translator may very well be useful to have in enterprise conferences to ease language obstacles and make sure that all particulars of the dialog are totally understood by each events.

Anticipate a variety of small speak within the first assembly. Establishing familiarity and belief is vital to Bangladeshis and could be attributed to the tradition’s long-term orientation and excessive uncertainty avoidance. As such, it’s attainable for your complete first assembly to encompass introductions and for vital selections to be made in subsequent conferences.

When establishing familiarity in a enterprise context, Bangladeshis could ask questions which will appear private to somebody from a extra individualistic tradition, reminiscent of questions on one’s household. Nonetheless, inquiring about one’s private life is commonplace and meant as an expression of friendliness and curiosity in Bangladesh’s collectivist tradition.

As beforehand mentioned, seniority and hierarchy are vital in Bangladesh. As such, essentially the most senior-ranking official sometimes leads the assembly and makes the choices.

Moreover, the idea of face is vital to be conscious of in enterprise conferences. “Face” on this context loosely means “an individual’s fame, dignity, and status”. The place in lots of cultures frank and direct communication is inspired, overt disagreement or criticism in group settings or giant boards could be seen as inflicting a “lack of face” in Bangladesh. Thus, it is very important be as tactful and mild as attainable, notably if one comes from a tradition the place frankness is inspired. If in case you have constructive criticism to supply, it’s best to debate this in non-public.

Bangladeshis are implicit/oblique communicators, that means they have a tendency to speak in lengthy sentences that typically solely make sense when context and physique language are accounted for. As such, it is very important fastidiously observe the context wherein your Bangladeshi counterpart is talking and concentrate on visible cues, pauses, physique language, and what’s not mentioned, along with what’s. For instance, saying “sure” could merely point out understanding, slightly than precise settlement, so it’s best to make clear along with your Bangladeshi counterpart whether or not you will have reached an settlement on a deal.

Consuming and consuming

If invited to a Bangladeshi residence, you might be inspired to convey fruits, pastries, sweets, good high quality candies, or souvenirs as items. At all times bear in mind to ask about allergy symptoms and dietary restrictions when giving meals as items. Keep away from giving cash, white flowers, animal merchandise and by-products, or alcoholic drinks as items. Current and obtain items both with each palms or simply the proper hand.

Watch for the host to provide the sign to begin the meal earlier than sampling any of the meals. It’s thought-about good manners to complete all of the meals in your plate. Most individuals eat with their palms, so make sure you wash your palms earlier than the meal. If you’re uncomfortable consuming along with your palms, it’s completely acceptable to ask for utensils. When you select to eat along with your palms, solely eat with the proper hand – by no means the left.

It’s customary for Bangladeshis to repeatedly insist that their company have extra servings. We advise you to tempo your self when consuming, in an effort to settle for not less than one such supply, which is seen as being well mannered. To politely decline additional servings, merely say “no, thanks – I’m full” each time.

After the meal, it’s regular to sit down for a while and make dialog. Dessert is often served, as Bangladesh is well-known for its conventional sweets and tropical fruits. Alcohol is usually absent as a result of prevalence of Islam, which prohibits its consumption.

Public areas

In contrast to many cultures, there isn’t any social taboo in opposition to staring in Bangladesh. As such, usually the very first thing one notices in public, notably if one is a foreigner or sporting good garments, is that they’re being stared at by passers-by.

Bangladeshis usually stand near others in public, even within the case of strangers. If you’re uncomfortable with this, notably as a result of COVID-19 pandemic, you must politely ask if the individual may please stand a bit additional away.

Resulting from spiritual conservatism, public shows of affection, notably between romantic companions, are taboo and should entice unfavorable consideration.

Security

We suggest exercising warning and remaining vigilant when touring to Bangladesh. At all times seek the advice of your state division’s nation data web page and pointers when planning your journey.

Moreover, it’s unwise to wander fully alone. If you’re comparatively new to Bangladesh, we suggest having a trusted advisor, translator, or native contact, who’s acquainted with the nation, and touring in teams for tourism functions. Valuables ought to be saved in resort safes, and cell phones and wallets ought to be stored out of sight to attenuate the chance of pick-pocketing, notably in crowded areas.

We don’t suggest consuming meals from avenue distributors, as these meals objects are completely unregulated. Faucet water can’t be readily consumed – it should be filtered or boiled first. Mosquito repellent could also be required, notably from June to October, as a result of prevalence of the extreme mosquito-borne sickness referred to as dengue fever throughout this time. Moreover, we suggest avoiding stray canine, of which there are various, notably in city areas, resulting from rabies.