Bangladesh eSIM
data from $3.49.

If you are searching for an eSIM for Bangladesh, buy a data only plan from $3.49 and install it before you fly. You get 4G on Banglalink, Grameenphone and Robi, with no local number and no calls or texts. It suits family visits and stays in Dhaka and Sylhet.

Choosing an eSIM for Bangladesh

What matters is coverage on the main networks, enough data for your stay, a validity that matches your trip, hotspot support and installing before departure. Price is secondary once those are settled.

When readers ask us for the best eSIM for Bangladesh, we point to the same checklist rather than a single product. Work through it in this order.

Coverage. The plan should run on the main national networks rather than one small operator. Slashtel connects to Banglalink, Grameenphone and Robi, and your phone selects the network automatically when you arrive. That gives you a fallback if one signal is weak indoors or in a rural area.

Data. Match the size to your habits and the length of the trip. A short visit with heavy map use needs more than a long stay with mostly Wi-Fi. The section below sets out typical sizes.

Validity. Plans run for 7, 15 or 30 days. The clock starts when the plan activates on arrival, not when you buy it, so buying early is safe. Choose a validity that covers the whole trip so you are not left without data on the last days.

Hotspot. Tethering works, so one plan can serve a laptop or a second phone. This is useful for family visits where several devices need a connection.

Installing early. Add the eSIM to your phone at home over reliable Wi-Fi, label it Bangladesh, and leave it switched off until you land. Installation needs a stable connection and a few minutes, which is easier before the flight than in an arrivals hall.

Plans and prices for Bangladesh

Plans come in 1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB and 20GB sizes, with 7, 15 or 30 day validity, from $3.49. The table shows the starting price for each size.

Prices shown are the live from-price for each size and are confirmed at checkout. Sizes and durations are fixed combinations, so pick the one that covers your trip length. If you are unsure between two sizes, the larger one avoids topping up mid trip.

Networks and coverage in Bangladesh

Your eSIM connects to Banglalink, Grameenphone and Robi, the three networks most travellers meet, on 4G. The phone chooses the network automatically, so you do not configure anything.

Grameenphone has the widest reputation among visitors, Banglalink and Robi are strong in the cities. In Dhaka, data works well across the central districts, Gulshan, Banani, Dhanmondi and Motijheel, and around the airport. In Sylhet, coverage is good in the town and on the main roads, while rural areas and the tea garden districts can be weaker on any network.

Automatic selection means the phone picks a network on arrival. If you find yourself on a weak signal, you can switch manually in your phone settings to another of the three. Indoor coverage in older buildings with thick walls can be limited on all networks, so use Wi-Fi where it is offered.

We do not publish speed figures or coverage percentages because they vary by location, device and time of day. Treat the network list as your guide and expect city coverage to be stronger than remote coverage, as in most countries.

How much data you need

Most travellers do fine with 3GB for one to two weeks and 10GB or more for a month of regular use. Pick from these typical trips.

• One week: 1GB over 7 days suits light use such as maps, messages and checking email, with Wi-Fi at your accommodation.
• Two weeks: 3GB over 15 days covers a normal mix of maps, messaging and photos.
• One month: 3GB over 30 days works for a long family visit where you are mostly on Wi-Fi, while 10GB or 20GB over 30 days suits heavier use.

Video calls to family abroad use data quickly. A 20 minute WhatsApp video call can use a noticeable share of a small plan, so size up if you plan regular calls. Streaming video and uploading photos also add up. Maps and messaging are light by comparison.

If you run low, you can top up rather than buy a new plan, so starting smaller is not a problem as long as you watch your balance.

Install it before you fly

Install the eSIM at home, label it Bangladesh, and switch it on only after landing. This avoids depending on airport Wi-Fi at the start of your trip.

On iPhone, go to Settings, then Mobile Service or Cellular, and add the eSIM using the QR code or activation details from your order. On Android, the path varies by manufacturer but sits under Settings, Network and Internet, then SIMs. Our guide to installing an eSIM on iPhone and Android walks through both.

Before you buy, check that your phone supports eSIM and is not locked to a single carrier. The eSIM compatibility guide explains how to check on common models.

When you land, enable the Bangladesh eSIM and set it as the line for mobile data. Keep your home SIM active for calls and texts but turn off data roaming on it to avoid charges. The eSIM activates when it first connects to a network in Bangladesh.

Calls, texts and your home number

The eSIM is data only. It has no local number and cannot make calls or send SMS. WhatsApp, FaceTime and similar apps work over the data connection.

Keep your home SIM in the phone for calls, texts and bank verification codes. Set the home SIM as the default for calls and messages, and the Bangladesh eSIM as the default for mobile data. That way your bank codes still arrive on your usual number while data runs on the local plan.

If you need to call a taxi, a guesthouse or a relative in Bangladesh, use WhatsApp where the other party has it, or your home number at roaming rates. The eSIM does not replace a local SIM for voice calls.

Questions travellers ask about Bangladesh

A few practical points come up again and again, so they are answered in the FAQ below. In short: the plan is data only, it starts on arrival, hotspot works, and topping up keeps you connected.

One more note on timing. Buy when your trip is confirmed rather than months ahead, so the validity window lines up with your dates. The plan does not start until it connects in Bangladesh, but keeping the purchase close to departure keeps things simple.