Phrases you hope never to need — but must have.

How to Use This Page

This is not a page to read once and forget. It is a reference to save, screenshot, and keep accessible on your phone throughout your trip. Emergency situations are precisely the moments when language ability deserts even experienced speakers — the stress, the unfamiliarity, the urgency all conspire to wipe your memory clean at exactly the wrong moment.

Our recommendation: before you travel to Bangladesh or any Bangla-speaking region, spend twenty to thirty minutes with this page. Identify the five or six phrases most relevant to your trip, say them aloud several times until they feel natural, and write them on a small card you keep with your passport. The phrases in this section could, in a worst-case scenario, save your life or someone else's.

Bangladesh is a safe country for most travellers, and the vast majority of visits pass without any serious incident. The purpose of this page is not to alarm you but to prepare you — because preparation is what makes the difference between a frightening situation becoming a manageable one.

Part 1: The Most Critical Phrases — Know These by Heart

These are the phrases that matter most. Before anything else on this page, memorise these ten. They cover the broadest range of emergency situations and are the ones you are most likely to need when panic sets in.

Part 2: Medical Emergencies — চিকিৎসা জরুরি অবস্থা

Medical emergencies are the most common serious situation travellers face. Bangladesh has good hospitals in Dhaka and Chittagong — including Square Hospital, United Hospital, and Dhaka Medical College Hospital — but outside of major cities, medical facilities can be limited. Knowing how to communicate your symptoms and needs clearly could be critical.

Describing Symptoms

• আমার পেট ব্যথা। (Amar pet bytha.) — I have a stomach ache.
• আমার মাথা ব্যথা। (Amar matha bytha.) — I have a headache.
• আমার বুকে ব্যথা। (Amar buke bytha.) — I have chest pain.
• আমার পা ভেঙে গেছে। (Amar pa bhenge gechhe.) — My leg is broken.
• আমার জ্বর হয়েছে। (Amar jor hoyechhe.) — I have a fever.
• আমার বমি হচ্ছে। (Amar bomi hochhhe.) — I am vomiting.
• আমার শ্বাস নিতে কষ্ট হচ্ছে। (Amar shash nite koshto hochhhe.) — I am having difficulty breathing.
• আমি মাথা ঘুরাচ্ছি। (Ami matha ghuracchhhi.) — I am feeling dizzy.
• আমি জ্ঞান হারাচ্ছি। (Ami gyan haracchhhi.) — I am losing consciousness.
• আমি ডায়াবেটিক। (Ami diabetic.) — I am diabetic.
• আমার হার্টের সমস্যা আছে। (Amar hart-er shomoshsha ache.) — I have a heart condition.
• আমার অ্যালার্জি আছে। (Amar allergy ache.) — I have an allergy.
• আমি এই ওষুধ খাই। (Ami ei oshudh khai.) — I take this medication.
• আমার রক্তের গ্রুপ [A/B/O/AB]। (Amar rokter group [...]) — My blood group is [...].

At the Hospital or Clinic

• কাছের হাসপাতাল কোথায়? (Kachher hashpatal kothay?) — Where is the nearest hospital?
• জরুরি বিভাগ কোথায়? (Joruri bibhag kothay?) — Where is the emergency department?
• ডাক্তার দেখাতে চাই। (Doctor dekhate chai.) — I want to see a doctor.
• এখানে ব্যথা। (Ekhane bytha.) — The pain is here. (point to the area)
• ব্যথা কতক্ষণ ধরে? (Bytha kotokkhon dhore?) — How long have you had the pain? (doctor asking)
• সকাল থেকে। (Shokal theke.) — Since this morning.
• গতকাল রাত থেকে। (Gotokal rat theke.) — Since last night.
• অস্ত্রোপচার লাগবে? (Ostrhopochar lagbe?) — Is surgery needed?
• ওষুধ কোথায় পাব? (Oshudh kothay pabo?) — Where can I get medicine?
• ফার্মেসি কোথায়? (Pharmacy kothay?) — Where is the pharmacy?
• আমার ভ্রমণ বিমা আছে। (Amar bhromone bima ache.) — I have travel insurance.
• বিমার কাগজ দরকার। (Bima-r kagoj dorkar.) — I need insurance paperwork.

Medical Dialogue: At the Emergency Department

Part 3: Police and Crime — পুলিশ ও অপরাধ

Bangladesh has a national police force (বাংলাদেশ পুলিশ, Bangladesh Police) with a tourist police unit (পর্যটন পুলিশ) specifically dedicated to assisting foreign travellers. If you need to report a crime, theft, or any other incident, these phrases will help you communicate the essential facts.

Reporting an Incident

• পুলিশ ডাকুন! (Police dakun!) — Call the police!
• থানা কোথায়? (Thana kothay?) — Where is the police station?
• আমার সাথে ছিনতাই হয়েছে। (Amar shathe chhintai hoyechhe.) — I have been mugged.
• আমার ব্যাগ চুরি হয়েছে। (Amar bag churi hoyechhe.) — My bag has been stolen.
• আমার পাসপোর্ট হারিয়ে গেছে। (Amar passport hariye gechhe.) — My passport is lost.
• আমার মানিব্যাগ চুরি হয়েছে। (Amar manibag churi hoyechhe.) — My wallet has been stolen.
• আমার ফোন চুরি হয়েছে। (Amar phone churi hoyechhe.) — My phone has been stolen.
• এটা ঘটেছে...তে। (Eta ghotechhe...te.) — This happened at/in...
• প্রায় [সময়] আগে। (Pray [time] age.) — About [time] ago.
• চোরের বিবরণ দেব? (Chorer biborono debo?) — Should I give a description of the thief?
• জিডি করতে চাই। (GD korte chai.) — I want to file a General Diary (police report).
• রিপোর্টের কপি দিন। (Report-er copy din.) — Please give me a copy of the report.

Police Dialogue

Part 4: Accidents — দুর্ঘটনা

Road accidents are unfortunately a significant hazard in Bangladesh, which has a high rate of road traffic incidents. If you witness or are involved in an accident, these phrases will help you respond.

• দুর্ঘটনা হয়েছে! (Durghottona hoyechhe!) — There has been an accident!
• কেউ আহত হয়েছে। (Keu ahoto hoyechhe.) — Someone is injured.
• সে অজ্ঞান হয়ে গেছে। (She ogyan hoye gechhe.) — He/She has lost consciousness.
• রক্ত বের হচ্ছে। (Rokto ber hochhhe.) — There is bleeding.
• নড়াবেন না। (Noraben na.) — Do not move him/her.
• অ্যাম্বুলেন্স ডাকুন। (Ambulance dakun.) — Call an ambulance.
• ফার্স্ট এইড কিট আছে? (First aid kit ache?) — Is there a first aid kit?
• আমি দোষী নই। (Ami doshi noi.) — I am not at fault.
• গাড়ির নম্বর প্লেট নিন। (Garir nombor plate nin.) — Take the vehicle's number plate.
• সাক্ষী আছে? (Shakhi ache?) — Are there witnesses?

Part 5: Getting Lost — পথ হারানো

Getting lost in Dhaka or any large Bangladeshi city is easy — and can be disorienting, especially in the narrow lanes of older neighbourhoods. These phrases will help you find your way back.

• আমি পথ হারিয়ে ফেলেছি। (Ami path hariye phelechi.) — I have lost my way.
• আমি কোথায় আছি? (Ami kothay achi?) — Where am I?
• এটা কোন এলাকা? (Eta kon elaka?) — What area is this?
• আমার হোটেলে নিয়ে যেতে পারবেন? (Amar hotele niye jete parben?) — Can you take me to my hotel?
• আমার হোটেলের নাম [নাম]। (Amar hoteler nam [name].) — My hotel is called [name].
• এই ঠিকানায় যেতে চাই। (Ei thikanay jete chai.) — I want to go to this address. (show written address)
• গুগল ম্যাপ দেখাচ্ছি। (Google map dekhacchhhi.) — I am showing you Google Maps.
• আমার দূতাবাসে নিয়ে যান। (Amar dutabash-e niye jan.) — Take me to my embassy.
• পুলিশ স্টেশন কোথায়? (Police station kothay?) — Where is the police station?
• ইন্টারনেট আছে কোথায়? (Internet ache kothay?) — Where is there internet access?

Part 6: Natural Disasters and Extreme Weather

Bangladesh is prone to flooding (বন্যা, bonnya), cyclones (ঘূর্ণিঝড়, ghurnijhor), and other weather-related emergencies, particularly during the monsoon season (June–September). If you are travelling during this period, awareness of weather-related emergency language is important.

• বন্যা হচ্ছে। (Bonnya hochhhe.) — There is flooding.
• ঘূর্ণিঝড় আসছে। (Ghurnijhor ashchhe.) — A cyclone is coming.
• নিরাপদ আশ্রয় কোথায়? (Nirapod ashroy kothay?) — Where is a safe shelter?
• সাইক্লোন শেল্টার কোথায়? (Cyclone shelter kothay?) — Where is the cyclone shelter?
• উচ্চ ভূমিতে যান। (Uchchho bhumite jan.) — Go to higher ground.
• এলাকা ছেড়ে যান। (Elaka chhede jan.) — Evacuate the area.
• বন্যার পানি পান করবেন না। (Bonnyar pani pan korben na.) — Do not drink the floodwater.

Part 7: Communication Breakdown — When You Don't Have the Words

Even with this guide, there will be moments in an emergency when the right Bangla phrase simply won't come. Here are strategies and phrases for exactly those moments.

• ইংরেজি কেউ বলতে পারবেন? (Ingreji keu bolte parben?) — Can anyone speak English?
• দোভাষী লাগবে। (Dobhashi lagbe.) — I need an interpreter.
• লিখে দিন। (Likhe din.) — Please write it down.
• আমার ফোনে কথা বলুন। (Amar phone-e kotha bolun.) — Please speak on my phone. (hand your phone to someone who can help translate)
• আমার দেশের কাউকে ফোন করতে হবে। (Amar desher kakuke phone korte hobe.) — I need to call someone from my country.
• দূতাবাসের নম্বর আছে? (Dutabash-er nombor ache?) — Do you have the embassy number?

Part 8: Your Emergency Information Card

Before you travel, prepare a simple card in Bangla with your personal emergency information. This can be shown to anyone — a bystander, a police officer, a doctor — if you are unable to communicate verbally. Here is a template:

A Final Word

Bangladesh is an extraordinarily hospitable country, and the Bangladeshi people are among the most generous and warm-hearted you will encounter anywhere in the world. In any emergency situation, your first resource is often simply the people around you — who will go to remarkable lengths to help a foreigner in difficulty, even without a common language.

The phrases in this section are your backup — the words that give you a way to communicate when warmth and goodwill alone are not enough. We hope you never need them. But we're glad you have them.

বিপদে মানুষই মানুষের পরিচয়। — "In difficulty, one person recognises another." A Bangla proverb about human solidarity in times of need.