Settling in Bangladesh

Chapter 12

What to bring from home

(Excerpts, edited and abridged. This section has been updated.)

Many goods are available in Dhaka. What you decide to bring with you depends on your interests. Remember that you will have househelp who are used to doing things their way. For example, it is almost impossible to persuade your housekeeper to use a broom different from those made locally. Good quality china is produced in Bangladesh and are relatively cheap. Manual lawn mowers are available locally, as well as duty-free household appliances with local warranties.

Although you may want to bring your fine linen and thick towels in a variety of fashionable colours, you will find that with the constant washing (because of the hot humid weather) and bleaching (for hygenic reasons) you will be doing here, it is best to use the local sheets and towels in plain white colour. Sheets, bedcovers, mosquito nets, curtains, can all be custom-made here in local material at very reasonable price, and can be ready in no time at all.

Kitchen Items

  • Good quality glassware, especially wine glasses
  • cutlery
  • vegetable peelers and special knives
  • baking pans and pie dishes

Bedroom and Bathroom

  • shower curtains and rings

  • rubber non-slip mats

  • digital bathroom scale

  • synthetic, washable pillows

  • toilet plunger

  • hypo-allergenic cosmetic items

  • favourite brands of cosmetics and perfumes

  • favourite brands of medicines and vitamins

  • band-aids, gauzes and other wound dressings

  • a supply of favourite shampoo/conditioner (although may be available locally, the supply is not constant)

  • a supply of eye-drop (for relief and to get the red caused by pollution out)

Clothing

  • underwear, including good quality bra
  • swim-wear
  • pantyhose, knee-highs, control tops
  • good quality sports shoes, if you are an odd size
  • good quality umbrellas
  • leather cleaner and conditioners to keep them smooth and mold-free
  • lots of at-home wear that can undergo constant washing and ironing

Food

  • a big freezer for flour, rice, nuts, cheese, etc. that you have to store against the weather and bugs
  • health foods (substitute salt, non-iodised salt, light soya sauce, etc.)

Miscellaneous

  • hobby and art supplies
  • gardening shears, rake, hand trowel, rose cutter
  • educational toys and books for children
  • outdoor games
  • books
  • even though CDs with popular music, computer software and games are widely available, classical music is not
  • spare prescription glasses or contacts
  • animal flea collars and worm tablets

Do not bring:

arms and ammunition
more than one bottle of liquor (duty-free shop prices are quite cheap)
unreasonable quantities of jewellery
gold bouillion, sheets, biscuits or coins

Suggestions

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