Ashes transport guide
Bringing ashes home from Bangladesh
You have ashes in Bangladesh and need to bring them home. This page covers what Bangladesh requires before they can leave.
Quick reference
3-10 days to arrange
What does Bangladesh require before ashes can leave?
Departure airports: DAC (Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Dhaka)
Carriers serving the UK: Biman Bangladesh Airlines; Emirates (via Dubai); Qatar Airways (via Doha)
Authority that must release the case: Union Parishad (rural) or City Corporation (urban) under Births and Deaths Registration Act 2004; Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS); Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) Forensic Department or approved divisional hospital; Bangladesh Police and magistrate court (for investigated deaths)
The rules that apply on any route, and what you may do with ashes once home, are covered in bringing ashes into the UK.
What are the airline rules for carrying ashes?
What does Bangladesh require to export ashes?
Cremation availability
Cremation may be restricted or unavailable in Bangladesh due to religious or legal reasons. If you are dealing with ashes from a previous cremation held elsewhere, the export rules may differ. Contact us for guidance specific to your situation.
What affects the cost?
Carrying ashes home yourself is the least expensive way to bring someone back from Bangladesh, and for many families it costs little more than the return flight they are already taking. We do not publish a figure, because what you pay depends on the case.
| What changes the cost | Why |
|---|---|
| Whether the cremation has already taken place | Arranging it locally adds funeral director and crematorium involvement |
| Where the death happened | Distance to the nearest crematorium changes local transfer |
| Carrying versus shipping | Hand luggage costs nothing extra; a specialist courier is a separate arrangement |
| Documentation Bangladesh requires | Export permits and translation, where they apply |
Send us the details of your situation and we will give you a figure, with no obligation.
What else is worth knowing about Bangladesh?
Bangladesh has a substantial UK diaspora; Biman Bangladesh Airlines operates direct flights from Dhaka DAC to London Heathrow; Bangladesh is a Commonwealth country; the representative is the British High Commission, not an Embassy; Deaths outside Dhaka (Chittagong, Sylhet, Rajshahi) may require transfer to Dhaka for forensic post-mortem if local capacity is insufficient; The significant UK-Bangladeshi diaspora means local agents in Dhaka are experienced with UK-bound repatriation requirements; Monsoon season (June-October) can cause transport delays, particularly in rural areas prone to flooding
medium
Full repatriation guide
Complete guide: repatriation from Bangladesh
Official support
British Embassy in Bangladesh: contacts and what consular staff can do
Need guidance?
We can help with ashes transport
We deal with Union Parishad (rural) or City Corporation (urban) under Births and Deaths Registration Act 2004; Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS); Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) Forensic Department or approved divisional hospital; Bangladesh Police and magistrate court (for investigated deaths) and the local crematorium directly.
Send an enquiryFurther guidance
Official lists for Bangladesh
Published by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for British nationals. We are not connected to the firms listed.
- Lawyers, where an estate or an investigation needs local legal advice
Sources: FCDO: death abroad · FCDO travel advice · Repatriation from Bangladesh
More on ashes and cremation abroad
Bringing ashes home from Bangladesh
Tell us where the ashes are now and where home is. We will explain what is needed and send you a quote. We send ashes home to the UK, Ireland or any other country.