Bangladesh wasn’t a destination most people expected me to visit. When I told friends and colleagues about my plan, many asked, “Why go to Bangladesh for tourism?” Even the visa officer at the Bangladesh Embassy in Kathmandu, the immigration officer in Dhaka, and several locals repeated the same question with surprised smiles. But I had a simple answer: Nepal has mountains, rivers and hills—but no sea. I went for the beaches.

Dhaka was my first stop, and the city hit me with its pace. Compared to Nepal, the Bangladeshi capital has undergone rapid infrastructure expansion—wide roads, long flyovers, fast tracks and a functioning metro system carve through the city. But alongside this impressive development comes the other reality: almost no discipline in traffic. Vehicles rush from every direction, rules appear optional, and crossing the street feels like a test of courage.

Bangladesh, with an area of roughly 148,000 sq km, is only slightly larger than Nepal’s 147,516 sq km, but its population—over 170m—overshadows Nepal’s nearly 30m. It is a country overflowing with people. The crowds are constant, and everywhere feels busy.

After Dhaka, my main destination was Cox’s Bazar—the world’s longest natural sandy beach. This was the part of the journey I was truly looking forward to. The sea breeze, the endless shoreline and the rhythmic sound of the waves were exactly what I had hoped for. I explored both commercial beaches filled with local visitors and quieter, more untouched stretches of sand. It was fun, refreshing and unlike anything Nepal can offer.

What surprised me, though, was the absence of foreign tourists. The beaches were lively, but almost entirely with domestic travelers. Despite that, people were warm, curious and welcoming everywhere we went.

According to the Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB), Bangladesh received around 655,000 foreign tourists in 2024. But the local media reports that many of the foreign arrivals recorded by BTB are not leisure tourists but include business travellers and non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs).

Back in Dhaka, I visited the area around Dhaka University. The walls were painted with murals—powerful images connected to past protests and political movements. Yet the atmosphere was peaceful, with students walking, chatting and enjoying the campus surroundings.

My week in Bangladesh was a mix of contrasts: infrastructure growth and traffic chaos, overwhelming crowds and serene beaches, political expressions on walls and calm in the streets. It was unexpected, eye-opening and memorable—a reminder that sometimes the best trips are the ones others question.