Baksheesh – the tip

In the Muslim world, spending money is an integral part of everyday life and a matter of course. Bangladesh is not a social state, so there are also no social benefits through it. But especially in professional groups such as in the simple guest industry, hardly any of his income will be able to live or support his family. So tip secures the income and livelihoods. This is so accepted by all social classes and practiced and has nothing to do with you as a foreigner. Practically one expects you of course already a reasonable tip.

Tipping - part of daily life

Tip, or baksheesh is not a big thing. Just as you plan for a daily budget, you should also do with the tip. You will be rewarded with a corresponding tip for a performance. The very fact that you are a foreigner does not make fixed prices for you more expensive. There are, of course, exceptions such as the entrance fees for museums etc. in which, however, is pointed out beforehand. The prices for tickets of all kinds, hotels, restaurants etc. are firm and apply to the same extent for you as for locals. The eager train attendant, who provides you with tea and snacks, or the bus attendant, who takes care of your luggage, at the end of a small tip awaits, should not really surprise.

For nothing, there is nothing!

A rickshaw driver will expect some tip. He does not earn much money, given the hardness of his work. Judging from his circumstances, you are rich. A hairdresser may be asking for the fifty taka for morning shaving. If he was good, you give him eighty or a hundred. Both of them will be happy as sandboys and it does not really make you any poorer. Caution with taxis, this is a very special family, better you use other means of transport. Their hunting grounds are of course the diplomatic, foreigner and business districts of Dhaka. In principle, it is advisable to negotiate the price beforehand in all private transports. This is particularly true for the capital and spares you from unpleasant surprises. On markets etc. you pay the same prices as everyone else. This is where your negotiation skills are in demand, because hassle is part of it!