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Cross-border route

Myanmar Bangladesh

Driving across the border
Yes — you can drive from Myanmar into Bangladesh: carry a certified IDP translation of your licence alongside the original so border officials and rental desks can read your credentials. Bangladesh expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP, prepared in the 1949 Geneva Convention format. Important: Myanmar drives on the right and Bangladesh drives on the left, so the side of the road changes at the border — take extra care. Plan your border crossing in advance and keep your passport, national licence and IDP together.
⚠ Driving side changes at the border: Myanmar drives on the right, Bangladesh on the left.

Last reviewed July 2026

Route at a glance
FromMyanmar
ToBangladesh
IDP in BangladeshStrongly recommended
Accepted format1949 Geneva
Driving sideChanges (right → left)
Currency in BangladeshBDT
Emergency number999
Top speed limit80 km/h highways
Driving in Bangladesh
MyanmarBangladesh

Crossing the border

Myanmar and Bangladesh share a land border you can cross by car. Keep your passport, national driving licence and International Driving Permit together, and check opening hours and any toll or vignette requirements before you travel.

Driving rules in Bangladesh

  • Drive on the left.
  • Heavy, mixed urban traffic — drive defensively.
  • Horn use is constant.
  • Carry passport, IDP and home licence.

What to see when you arrive in Bangladesh

  • the Sundarbans mangrove forest
  • the world's longest beach at Cox's Bazar
  • the Sixty Dome Mosque at Bagerhat
  • the Lalbagh Fort in Dhaka
  • the tea hills of Sylhet

Once you're driving in Bangladesh

Destination-specific detail sourced from national road authorities, motoring clubs and rental policies — the things that catch cross-border drivers out.

Driving on a foreign licence

Foreign visitors should carry a valid home licence together with a 1949/1968 International Driving Permit; the BRTA accepts this combination only for short visits and does not allow driving on a home licence alone. Longer-term residents must obtain a Bangladeshi licence through the BRTA.

Tolls & road charges

There is no national vignette; tolls are collected per crossing at booths on major bridges and highways such as the Padma Bridge and Bangabandhu (Jamuna) Bridge, paid in cash (taka) at the plaza, typically a few hundred taka for a car.

Parking in the cities

Dhaka has very little formal street parking; use guarded paid lots at malls and hotels, as roadside parking is heavily congested and illegally parked cars are ticketed or towed by traffic police and DNCC/DSCC authorities.

Fines & camera enforcement

Using a hand-held phone while driving, no seatbelt and speeding draw fines under the Road Transport Act 2018; traffic sergeants issue case slips (mamla) rather than taking cash on the spot, and rental firms pass any tickets back to the renter.

If you have an accident

Dial the national emergency line 999 for police and ambulance; do not move vehicles after a serious crash and wait for police, as a police report is needed for any insurance claim. Crowds can gather quickly, so in a serious incident drivers are advised to drive to the nearest police station rather than confront a mob.

Driving in the capital

Dhaka traffic is among the world's most congested, with cars, rickshaws, CNG auto-rickshaws and buses weaving constantly; lane discipline is minimal and most tourists hire a local driver rather than self-drive.

Sources: tyremap.com · bd.usembassy.gov · globalpetrolprices.com · internationaldriversassociation.com

Common questions

01
Do I need an International Driving Permit to drive from Myanmar to Bangladesh?
Yes — Bangladesh commonly asks foreign drivers to carry an IDP with their national licence. Bangladesh recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention format, which is the format your certified IDP translation is prepared in.
02
Does the driving side change between Myanmar and Bangladesh?
Yes. Myanmar drives on the right and Bangladesh drives on the left. Adjust carefully once you cross the border.
03
What is the emergency number and speed limit in Bangladesh?
In Bangladesh, dial 999 for emergencies; 112 also works from most GSM phones. The maximum for cars on the fastest road class is 80 km/h highways, but posted limits in towns and on secondary roads are lower and always take precedence.
04
How do tolls and road charges work in Bangladesh?
There is no national vignette; tolls are collected per crossing at booths on major bridges and highways such as the Padma Bridge and Bangabandhu (Jamuna) Bridge, paid in cash (taka) at the plaza, typically a few hundred taka for a car.
05
How quickly can I get an IDP for this trip?
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