Bangladesh (BD)
Bangladesh is a densely populated delta nation in South Asia, bordered by India and Myanmar, with the Bay of Bengal to the south.
Leaving Bangladesh
How to properly exit — protecting your finances, rights and records.
📅 General Timeline
90 days before: Confirm employer will handle work permit cancellation with BIDA/DIP; request HR documents (provident fund balance, gratuity calculation, salary certificate); begin school transcript request. 60 days before: Serve written lease notice (2 months standard); engage NBR-registered tax adviser for departure return; contact bank about NFCD conversion or closure timeline; ship or store household goods. 30 days before: Cancel or schedule final readings for DESCO/DPDC, WASA, Titas Gas and internet; update bank KYC with foreign address; collect full medical records; do not cancel health insurance until destination coverage is active. 15 days before: File NBR departure income tax return (Income Tax Act 2023 s.166) if not yet done; confirm work permit cancellation is complete. Final week: Apartment handover with landlord; photograph all rooms and meters; settle generator/service charge accounts; retain Bangladesh SIM for post-departure bank OTP access.
Deregistration
Bangladesh has no single formal municipal deregistration for departing foreigners. Key steps: (1) Work permit / visa — your employer's HR or BIDA (Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, bida.gov.bd) should handle cancellation of the work permit and notify the Department of Immigration and Passports (DIP) at immigration.gov.bd; confirm this is done before you leave. (2) NBR TIN — your Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) remains active after departure; cancel or suspend it only if no Bangladesh-source income will remain. (3) Employer — obtain your final payslip, salary certificate, and experience certificate before leaving; these are needed for NBR compliance and future employment. (4) School — obtain transfer/leaving certificate and full academic transcripts if departing with children. No formal confirmation document is issued by DIP for routine departures.
Tax clearance
Under the Income Tax Act 2023 Section 166, any person intending to leave Bangladesh permanently must file a departure income tax return with the National Board of Revenue (NBR) covering all income from the start of the fiscal year (1 July) to the expected departure date; tax must be assessed and paid before leaving. File via the NBR e-return portal (etaxnbr.gov.bd) or in person at your tax circle. The annual return deadline is 30 November for the year of departure. Bangladesh has no exit tax on capital gains or deemed disposal on departure. After losing resident status (below 182 days in Bangladesh per year), only Bangladesh-source income is taxable in Bangladesh. Retain your TIN credentials and tax payment certificates — needed for any ongoing property, bank or investment activity. Source: NBR/PwC Bangladesh 2026; The Daily Star 2026.
Pension portability
Bangladesh has no universal state pension for private-sector foreign employees. Most expats are covered by employer-specific Recognised Provident Fund (RPF) and/or Gratuity schemes. Provident Fund: employee contributions (typically 7–8% of basic salary, with employer match) are refundable at departure — get a written balance statement and withdrawal procedure from HR. Gratuity: under the Bangladesh Labour Act as updated by the Labour Amendment gazetted 16 February 2026, gratuity requires at least 5 years of continuous service; the calculation is 30 days' basic salary per completed year of service. If you have fewer than 5 years, gratuity is not payable unless your employment contract specifies otherwise. Bangladesh has no bilateral social security totalization agreement with most Western countries; check your home country's pension authority separately for credit-combining options. Contact: HR for fund statements; nbr.gov.bd for tax treatment of lump-sum withdrawals.
Health insurance
Bangladesh has no national health insurance for foreign employees. Coverage is typically employer-sponsored group health insurance or an international expat policy. Confirm the exact end date of your group policy with HR — coverage usually ends on the last day of employment. Do not cancel any international or secondary policy until confirmed replacement coverage is active in your destination country. Collect complete medical records, specialist reports, prescription history and vaccination documents (including COVID records) from Apollo, Square, United, or Evercare hospitals before departing; electronic access may not be available remotely.
Bank account
Most Bangladeshi banks (BRAC Bank, Dutch-Bangla Bank, HSBC Bangladesh, Islami Bank) require valid visa and resident status for standard accounts. On departure you have two options: (1) Convert to a Non-Resident Foreign Currency Deposit (NFCD) or Non-Resident Taka (NRT) account — requires updated KYC, a foreign address, and compliance with Bangladesh Bank foreign-exchange regulations; discuss the conversion with your bank before leaving. (2) Close the account after all salary, provident fund, gratuity, deposit returns and utility refunds have cleared. Keep at least one Bangladeshi SIM active after departure for SMS OTP access — Bangladeshi banks are highly dependent on local number verification. Large outward remittances require supporting documents (salary slips, tax clearance) under Bangladesh Bank rules.
Utilities
Electricity (Dhaka): DESCO or DPDC depending on your zone — visit the local customer service centre or settle via the biller portal; request final meter reading and account closure. Water/sewerage: WASA — notify and settle at the local office. Gas: Titas Gas — close your piped connection via a Titas Gas district office in person. Internet/broadband (Grameenphone Fiber, Banglalink, Summit, etc.): typically 30 days written or in-app cancellation notice. Mobile SIM: retain at least one SIM for bank OTP while accounts remain open. Building service charges and generator diesel are often managed through the building society — settle these in writing before handover. Photograph all meters on the final day.
Rental contract
Bangladesh has no statutory minimum notice period for residential tenancies — terms are governed by your lease agreement. Standard practice in Dhaka and Chittagong is 2 months written notice for a formal lease; 1 month is common for informal arrangements. Serve notice in writing (letter or email) and keep a copy. Walk through the property with the landlord on handover day and document condition with photographs — this is your primary protection against unjustified deposit deductions. Settle all building service charges, CCTV, generator, lift and security fees before expecting the deposit back; landlords typically withhold deposit until all dues are cleared. Typical deposit return takes 2–4 weeks after handover in practice.
Leaving the Country
Unlock the complete Leaving the Country guide for Bangladesh — including every detail, document, tip and link you need.
Become a SupporterSupport the guide on Ko-fi · Unlocks every premium section, everywhere