Dhaka - Post Report Question and Answers
Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
Grameenphone is probably the best one and very cheap. Get a prepaid since I've heard the process of getting a real account is a big ordeal. - Jul 2023
I brought an unlocked phone, got a post-paid SIM from the telecom folks in the Embassy, then used recharge.com to fill it up. I would up paying $5-10 a month for my data. - Dec 2021
Local provider is very easy to set up and inexpensive. - Sep 2021
I had an Embassy-provided phone which was good enough. I also had a personal phone I used when I travelled. voice and data plans are available. - Jun 2019
I use a local provider through my work. The quality is good. - Jul 2018
I did use a local provider but don't any longer. Since we cannot visit any local retail establishments, it would be impossible to sign up for a local provider nowadays. Since the Embassy provides mobile phones to all staff, there isn't any need, anyway. - Apr 2017
Bring an unlocked phone and buy a local pay-as-you-go SIM card, which costs around $10-12/month. - Jun 2016
Bring an unlocked phone and get a SIM card. - May 2016
Cheap and easy. - Jun 2015
Cheap and available here. I brought unlocked phone. Long distance is very cheap, for example 1 hour call to U.S. is about US$5.00. - Sep 2014
Get one when you arrive. The service and selection is decent. - Aug 2014
If you don't have a blackberry, bring an unlocked phone. Good data and a lot of talk/texting will run you about 1,000tk (US$12.50)/month - Jul 2014
Embassy provides for its staff. You can buy a pre-paid or post-paid plan with Grameenphone. Data plans are inexpensive but slow. There is no 3G yet - we're still on EDGE. - Aug 2013
Embassy-provided. - Apr 2013
Grameen phone, cheap and easy. We brought an ATT phone with unlocked codes and bought a sim card here. Have only refilled once in a year. - Aug 2011
Cheap domestically. Not sure about international. - Jun 2011
The embassy gives you one, but you might want to get your own for personal use. They're essentially the same price as in the states, though minutes are cheaper. - Feb 2011
Grameenphone is better than Banglalink because of better connections. - Jan 2011
Grameen Phone offers great service throughout the country and is quite inexpensive, even for international calls and texting. - Oct 2010
They are cheap here. Do not bring one from USA. - Apr 2010
Embassy personnel get them; it is very important to have a cell phone with you at all times. Grameen Phone seems to have the best coverage. - Oct 2009
Get one. - Aug 2009
Get one. They are cheap and coverage is great. - Mar 2009
Very cheap. Most people buy cellphones and then just do the "pay as you go" option. - Oct 2008
Get one. They are cheap. - Mar 2008
Get one. There are several major companies - I haven't heard anything special about any one way or the other. - Feb 2008
