One day at work, my Managing Director casually asked me, “Do you want to go to Bangladesh?”
I said yes instantly. No overthinking. No calculations. Just yes.
At that time, I was working part-time with the company, handling the website, digital presence, and social media. There was a tourism fair in Bangladesh, and the company needed someone from the digital side to attend. What I didn’t realize then was that this one word—yes—would become my first international experience, my first passport stamp, and one of the most meaningful chapters of my life.
Convincing Home, Convincing Myself
Convincing my parents was not easy.
They didn’t know much about the company, and naturally, they were worried. As a daughter traveling abroad for work, their fear came from love. During Dashain and Tihar, while I was home, I spoke to them every single day—explaining, reassuring, and promising to be careful.
I even asked ChatGPT all the questions someone asks before their first international trip: Is it safe? What should I be careful about?
Ironically, the answers scared me even more—with all the possible risks and assumptions. But instead of letting fear control me, I focused on preparation and precautions.
When the invitation letter from the fair finally arrived, it felt real.
Visa Fears and My First Passport Stamp
The embassy day was terrifying.
There were protests going on in Bangladesh at that time, and I kept thinking, What if my visa gets rejected?
On the first day, it actually wasn’t approved. They didn’t allow me to travel alone and asked me to come back together with the group I was traveling with. I was disappointed—but not hopeless.
The next day, it was approved.
When I returned to collect my passport and saw the visa stamped inside, I couldn’t stop smiling.
My first stamp. My first international approval.
Everything was sponsored, and at that moment, I felt truly grateful for the opportunity I had been given.
The Flight That Tested Me
The night before departure, I did a little shopping with my own savings—small things, but meaningful to me. I had my nails extension done for the first time.
At Tribhuvan International Airport, surrounded by people from everywhere, I felt excitement mixed with fear. I even had a plate of momo before boarding—a small taste of home before stepping into something new.
I got a window seat. The flight was only 1 hour and 30 minutes, but it felt long for me. I’ve had ear problems since childhood, and I completely forgot about it. During the flight, the pain became intense. For a moment, I honestly thought I might lose my hearing. I sat quietly, covering my ear, numb with discomfort.
But as the plane descended, the pain slowly faded—just like my fear.
First Impressions of Dhaka
We landed around 11 PM, and the first thing that shocked me was how alive the city was.
In Nepal, roads grow quiet after 9 PM. In Dhaka, everything was open—shops, traffic, people everywhere. The city never seemed to sleep.
The first hotel wasn’t what we expected but it was good for me! I slept easily, and it was not good for my team, so the next day we shifted to another one. That hotel was beautiful, with great service and a warm atmosphere. We stayed there for three days.
There, I met Nepali women athletes who had come to Bangladesh for sports. Seeing them up close—their strength was inspiring, because i haven’t seen people of that field that close – a little tomboy, a high confidence. I was shy at first, but on the last day, I gathered courage and spoke to them.
The Tourism Fair and New Friendships
The fair lasted three days. Our stall represented Nepal, inviting people to explore our country. I made friends my age from different stalls. They appreciated how naturally I connected with visitors, they wanted to know my techniques, but there was no any techniques involved. I was just having a conversations with them either in Hindi or English. Tbh, it wasn’t that hard to make friends because from my side it was effortless; they came to my stalls to know me.
Many people thought I was Bengali and spoke to me in Bangla. I had to smile and say, “Sorry, I don’t understand Bangla.”
There were participants from Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Maldives, and the cultural exchange felt special. The Maldives guy on the last day gave a fridge magnet and maldives coconut sweets wrapped in banana leaves, and i didn’t gave him anything.
Two boys from another stall became especially close to me. We joked, teased, laughed endlessly—and even discussed future business possibilities between our companies.
On the Last Day, i visited every stall and say goodbye to all with the help of the two boys! And, the fair was over at 8 Pm after the award ceremony.
Cox’s Bazar
After the exhibition, we traveled 7–8 hours by private car which was arranged by our Sir friend to Cox’s Bazar the same day—and it was worth every minute.
For the first time in my life:
- I saw the sea
- I rode a horse on the beach
- I did jet skiing
- I tasted seafood
- Collected seashells
- Swing like how we do in Dashain
We stayed in two different hotels with different beach views, and those two days were the happiest of the entire journey. I dance on Nepali song and even teach Bengali to dance on our Nepali song. We had wine which we had bought from duty free on airport- as Bangladesh doesn’t allow you to have beverages in the normal hotels and restaurant- its illegal to do that business.
The seafood was that good – i still remember, and want to have again.
Back to Dhaka
After those beautiful, carefree days at Cox’s Bazar, we returned back to Dhaka. The long road journey made me tired, but my mind was still full—of waves, laughter, music, and moments I knew I would remember for a lifetime.
On the way back, some friends we had met earlier suggested that we visit Bandarban, a place known for its hills and natural beauty. I told and they were agreed to go there. However, when we reached there, the army did not allow us to enter because we didn’t have the required entry letter. They asked us to return the next day with proper permission.
By then, it was already 3–4 AM in the morning, and we were exhausted. Instead of going back again, we decided to return directly to Dhaka.
That same early morning, we checked into a central place in Dhaka, The difference in quality, service, and environment was immediately noticeable. We stayed in that hotel for two days.
There, we met Nepali people again, but not of my age. Our sir spoke to them briefly—simple questions like where they were from, how long they were staying, and why they were in Bangladesh. The conversations were short and polite. We mostly met them only during breakfast, and even then, interactions were minimal. Still, seeing fellow Nepalis abroad always gave a small sense of comfort.
During those two days, we relied a lot on Google Maps recommendations. That’s how we ended up visiting some of the most peaceful places in the city.
We went to two famous gardens, surrounded by greenery and calmness. We did boating in a lake, something I didn’t expect to do in the middle of such a busy city. It was quiet, slow, and refreshing—almost like the city was letting us breathe for a while.
On the next Day, we shifted to another place, still within Dhaka. Even though we changed hotels, the city remained the same—crowded, loud, colorful, and alive at all times.
Long Drives, Parks, and Shopping Days
That day, we again had a private car, and we traveled quite far within the city. We visited Zinda Park, Ramna Park, Jamuna Future Park– one of the biggest malls in the world, and several distant areas that I can’t even name properly, but I remember the long roads and flyovers
Dhaka felt endless. Flyovers everywhere, traffic everywhere, yet lakes, trees, and parks somehow always appeared in between the chaos.
Bangladesh is famous for garments, and I always heard that clothes there are cheap. But because we shopped mostly at Malls, it was actually expensive—sometimes even more than Nepal.
The second-last day was almost fully about shopping, walking, eating, and resting. We ate Chinese food that day, it felt comforting.
I also had Momo of Bangladesh, but it was not that good as Nepal.
Nights With Conversations and Plans
For the last three nights, evenings were not for rest. They were for meetings.
We met those friends again—the ones I had become close to during the exhibition. Since they were working professionals, night was the only time they were free. We had dinners together, talked about business, future plans, and possibilities.
Even though things are currently paused due to political and religious instability in Bangladesh, and also because our company’s representative is busy with other responsibilities. Our MD truly believed in the potential of Bangladesh, especially Dhaka, because of its growing population and market opportunities.
And for me, those nights were not just about business, because i have a 0 knowledge on that. They were about connection, trust, and seeing how relationships are built beyond borders and also there to talk with my friends and a have a good dinner. I gave them 20 NPR to both of them, and they also gave me 51 BDT in return as a souvenir. I got more hihi.( the business, you know? ). I still have this in my purse.
I also made a personal Group Chat naming ‘ cute idiots’ with them but we don’t talk much as we are busy in our own! But, i Hope, we will have friendship over the years. I have learned basic words of Bangladesh from them, but i have forgot all i guess as of today.
The Last Day: Quiet and Reflective
The last day was surprisingly calm.
We didn’t go anywhere special. We packed our things, had breakfast, and walked slowly through the nearby market—just using our legs, observing people, shops, daily life.
At that moment, I felt something strange yet comforting. I felt happy to be there, grateful that I got to see, learn, and experience so much—not through stories, but with my own eyes.
Then we went to the airport.
What I Truly Observed From Bangladesh
Beyond all the travel and fun, I saw
- Tall buildings everywhere
- CNGs, rickshaws, and tuk-tuks everywhere— “ often called as Tesla”
- Public buses that are not well managed
- Flyovers everywhere
- So many beggars
- Lakes, trees, and parks throughout the city
- beautiful face inside the burkhas
- Roadside vendors everywhere: food, clothes, daily necessities
Grateful, Always
Overall, my experience was good—more than good.
In 2025, I traveled internationally for the first time in my life. Someone believed I deserved that opportunity, and from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
The 10 days passed so quickly. I still miss so many places to visit. Hopefully, in my life, if i happened to visit again , i will visit Bandarban, sylhet and island for sure (from my recommendations), and hope to do shopping from the street (as it will be cheap).
Everything was sponsored—travel, stay, even my clothes and essentials. I felt incredibly blessed.
And above all, I thank God for guiding me, protecting me, and making everything go smoothly. This journey made me more grateful.
And I will carry these memories with me—always. 🌍✨