Trying to find out if Bangladesh widely accepts Amex cards in restaurants and shops and ATMs - any suggestions
Think of Bangladesh as a cash-first country. ATMs are everywhere in Dhaka and Chittagong, but Visa/Mastercard cards are the ones you’ll need. A night at a decent hotel will cost ~BDT 3,000-6,000, and those hotels may take Amex, but tuk-tuk rides, shopping at New Market, or eating out will require cash or another card. If you still want to bring Amex, keep it for backup or emergencies. The smart move is to carry multiple cards plus enough local currency.
Bangladesh and Amex don’t mix well. I kept trying to use it at ATMs and point-of-sale machines, and it kept failing. Even mid-range hotels told me “cash only.” The few places where it worked had higher prices anyway, so it felt pointless. For daily life, whether buying train tickets, eating at casual restaurants, or paying entry fees at attractions, Amex was useless. If you’re traveling here, don’t waste your time - bring cash, Visa, or Mastercard. Otherwise, you’ll be frustrated and limited during your trip.
I carried my Amex to Dhaka thinking it would be widely accepted. It worked once at a luxury hotel and another time at an international chain store, but everywhere else I was turned down. Even at restaurants recommended by friends, they only took Visa or Mastercard. Luckily, I had a Visa debit card, and ATMs like Standard Chartered and Dutch-Bangla Bank worked smoothly. My advice: bring Amex if you want, but don’t depend on it. Bangladesh is still very cash-driven, especially in local markets.
Bangladesh has an expanding payment network, but American Express is far less common than Visa and Mastercard. In Dhaka, upscale hotels, luxury restaurants, and some airline offices accept Amex, but outside the capital, it becomes almost useless. ATMs that work with Amex are very limited. If you’re budgeting for rickshaw rides, market shopping, or street food like fuchka and chotpoti (less than 200 BDT a meal), you’ll need cash anyway. For wider acceptance, definitely carry a Visa or Mastercard - those cards are supported almost everywhere, from ATMs to retail stores.