Bangladesh Country Code (+880): Complete Guide

Updated October 29, 202614 min readBubblyPhone Team

Complete guide to Bangladesh country code +880. Learn how to dial Bangladesh from abroad, understand area codes, mobile formats, and save money on international calls.

Bangladesh Country Code (+880): Complete Guide

Quick Answer

πŸ‡§πŸ‡©
Bangladesh Country Code: +880
πŸ“±
Mobile Prefix: 1X (13-19)
πŸ’°
Call From a Browser: BubblyPhone ($0.06/min to mobiles, as of October 2026)

The Bangladesh country code is +880 (dialed as 00 880 from most countries and 011 880 from the US and Canada). To call or save a Bangladeshi mobile number, drop the leading 0 and add +880: the local number 01712-345678 becomes +880 1712-345678. That same +880 format is what WhatsApp needs when you add a Bangladeshi contact.

This guide covers how to dial Bangladesh correctly, area codes, mobile number formats and carrier prefixes, emergency numbers, and the cheapest ways to call Bangladesh from abroad.

How to Dial Bangladesh from Abroad

International Dialing Format

[Exit Code] + 880 + (Area Code) + Phone Number

Step 1: Dial Your Country's Exit Code

  • Most countries: 00
  • From USA/Canada: 011
  • From mobile phones: + (plus sign) - works worldwide

Step 2: Dial "880" (Bangladesh Country Code)

After your exit code, always dial 880 for Bangladesh

Step 3: Dial the Area Code & Local Number

Remember to drop the leading '0' from area codes when dialing from abroad. Inside Bangladesh, landline numbers are dialed as 0 + area code + local number.

πŸ“ž Example: Calling Dhaka

πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ From USA:

011 + 880 + 2 + local number

US exit code (011) + Bangladesh code (880)

πŸ“± From Any Mobile:

+880 + 2 + local number

Use + instead of exit code (works everywhere)

Major Bangladesh Area Codes

Area CodeCity / Region
2Dhaka (capital)
31Chittagong (Chattogram)
721Rajshahi
41Khulna
821Sylhet
521Rangpur
431Barisal (Barishal)
81Comilla (Cumilla)
91Mymensingh

Note: Bangladesh area codes vary in length from 1 digit (Dhaka = 2) to 3 or 4 digits for smaller towns and upazilas. The shorter the area code, the larger the city. This is similar to how Vienna, Austria uses the single-digit code "1".

Mobile Numbers in Bangladesh

πŸ“± Bangladesh Mobile Number Format

Bangladeshi mobile numbers are 11 digits domestically (01X-XXXX-XXXX) or 10 digits after the country code. The format from abroad:

+880 1X XXXX XXXX

Domestically: 01X-XXXX-XXXX (11 digits). Drop the leading 0 when dialing from abroad. The prefix 013 to 019 shows which operator originally issued the number (see the table below). Since mobile number portability launched in 2018, a prefix no longer guarantees the current carrier.

Mobile Carriers in Bangladesh

Bangladesh has about 186 million mobile subscriptions (BTRC, December 2025), making it one of the world's largest mobile markets. Four operators serve the country, with Grameenphone holding the dominant position.

CarrierMarket ShareMobile PrefixesNotes
Grameenphone (GP)~45%017, 013Majority-owned by Telenor (Norway). Largest network with the widest nationwide coverage, including rural areas.
Robi (Axiata)~31%018, 016Merged with Airtel Bangladesh in 2016 (Airtel numbers start with 016). Strong 4G network in urban areas. Majority-owned by Axiata Group (Malaysia).
Banglalink (VEON)~20%019, 014Owned by VEON. Competitive pricing. Good coverage in major cities and divisional towns.
Teletalk~4%015State-owned carrier. Limited coverage and subscriber base. Required for some government services.

Special & Emergency Numbers in Bangladesh

NumberService
999National Emergency (Police, Fire, Ambulance - unified)
102Fire Service & Civil Defence Hotline
333Government Information Service
100BTRC (Telecom Regulator) Complaints
16999Electricity Complaints (Power Division call centre)

Toll-Free & Premium Numbers

  • Toll-free numbers: Bangladesh uses the prefix 0800 for toll-free services, though these are only reachable from within Bangladesh and are mostly used by banks and large corporations.
  • Short codes: Many businesses use 4-5 digit short codes (e.g., 16XXX) for customer service. These are not reachable from outside Bangladesh.

Best Times to Call Bangladesh

Bangladesh uses Bangladesh Standard Time (BST, UTC+6) year-round. There is no daylight saving time.

From the USA (EST/EDT)

Bangladesh is 11 hours ahead of US Eastern Time (10 hours during EDT). If it is 8:00 AM in New York, it is 7:00 PM in Dhaka. Best window: 7:00 AM - 10:00 AM ET (6:00 PM - 9:00 PM in Bangladesh).

From the UK (GMT/BST)

Bangladesh is 6 hours ahead of GMT (5 hours during British Summer Time). If it is 1:00 PM in London, it is 7:00 PM in Dhaka. Best window: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM UK time (6:00 PM - 10:00 PM in Bangladesh).

Bangladesh's weekend is Friday and Saturday. Most offices are open Sunday through Thursday. Government offices typically run from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM BST. Avoid calling during Eid holidays when networks can be congested.

Country Information

πŸ›οΈ Capital: Dhaka
πŸ‘₯ Population: About 175 million (UN 2025 estimate)
🌐 Languages: Bengali, English
⏰ Time Zone: Bangladesh Standard Time (BST, UTC+6)
πŸ“± Popular Apps: WhatsApp, IMO, Messenger
πŸ“ž Exit Code: 00

Troubleshooting: Common Issues Calling Bangladesh

1. Drop the Leading "0" When Dialing from Abroad

Inside Bangladesh, you dial 02-XXXXXXXX for Dhaka or 01X-XXXX-XXXX for mobile numbers. When calling from abroad, remove the leading 0. The correct format is +880 2-XXXXXXXX (Dhaka landline) or +880 1X-XXXX-XXXX (mobile). This is the single most common mistake callers make.

2. Bangladesh Mobile Numbers Are 11 Digits (Domestically)

A complete Bangladeshi mobile number has 11 digits when dialed locally: 01X-XXXX-XXXX. After the country code (+880), it becomes 10 digits: 1X-XXXX-XXXX. If you are given a number that seems too short or too long, double-check whether the leading 0 is included. A number like "01712345678" should be dialed as +880-1712345678.

3. Network Congestion During Festivals (Eid)

During Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha (the two major holidays), Bangladesh's mobile networks experience extreme congestion. Millions of calls are placed simultaneously, and you may hear "all circuits are busy" or experience dropped calls. Try calling during off-peak hours (early morning Bangladesh time), or send a WhatsApp or IMO message first and agree on a time to call.

4. Dhaka Area Code "2" Is Very Short

Dhaka uses the single-digit area code 2, similar to how Vienna (Austria) uses "1" and Moscow uses "495/499". This means Dhaka landline numbers have more local digits to compensate. If a Dhaka number seems to have too many digits, it is likely correct. A full Dhaka landline call from abroad looks like: +880 2 XXXX XXXX.

5. Limited Landline Coverage in Rural Areas

Landline infrastructure in Bangladesh is concentrated in major cities. Many rural areas have no landline service at all, and residents rely entirely on mobile phones. If you cannot reach a landline number, ask your contact for their mobile number instead. Grameenphone (017) has the best rural mobile coverage in Bangladesh.

Cheapest Ways to Call Bangladesh

The cheapest way to call Bangladesh is a free app-to-app call on WhatsApp, IMO or Messenger, if your contact has the app and data. To call a regular +880 number, Google Voice has the lowest per-minute rate from the US ($0.02/min to mobiles, $0.04/min to landlines as of October 2026), but it needs a US Google Voice account. BubblyPhone costs more per minute and works in any browser with no app, no Google account and no US number.

πŸ’š

1. WhatsApp, IMO, Messenger

Rate: FREE
Best For: Calling friends and family who have the app

  • βœ“Free voice and video calls
  • βœ“IMO is extremely popular in Bangladesh
  • βœ—Both parties need the app installed
  • βœ—Cannot call landlines or businesses
🌐

2. BubblyPhone

Rate: $0.06/min to Bangladeshi mobiles and Dhaka landlines; $0.12/min to Chittagong and Sylhet landlines (as of October 2026)
Best For: Calling any Bangladesh number (business, landline, mobile)

  • βœ“No subscription; billed per started minute, no connection fee, unanswered calls are free
  • βœ“Works from browser on any device (no app needed)
  • βœ“No Google account or US phone number needed
  • βœ“Reaches all carriers: GP, Robi, Banglalink, Teletalk

⚠️ Before you dial: Check your mobile plan's international rate for Bangladesh before calling +880 directly. Pay-per-minute international rates on many plans are far higher than app or internet calling rates, unless you have an international add-on.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Bangladesh country code?

The Bangladesh country code is +880. You must dial this code before any Bangladesh phone number when calling from abroad.

How do I call Bangladesh from my mobile phone?

From any mobile phone worldwide, dial: +880 (area code) (phone number). The + symbol replaces your country's exit code.

What's the cheapest way to call Bangladesh?

Free app-to-app calls on WhatsApp, IMO or Messenger are the cheapest, if both people have the app. For a regular phone number, Google Voice charges $0.02/min to Bangladeshi mobiles but needs a US account. BubblyPhone charges $0.06/min (as of October 2026) and works in any browser with no app or Google account.

What time zone is Bangladesh in?

Bangladesh uses Bangladesh Standard Time (BST, UTC+6). There is no daylight saving time. Bangladesh is 11 hours ahead of US Eastern Standard Time (10 hours during EDT) and 6 hours ahead of UK GMT (5 hours during British Summer Time).

How many digits is a Bangladesh phone number?

A Bangladeshi mobile number has 11 digits when dialed domestically (01X-XXXX-XXXX) or 10 digits after the +880 country code. Landline numbers vary in length depending on the area code: Dhaka (area code 2) has 8 local digits, while smaller cities may have 6-7 local digits with longer area codes.

What is the cheapest way to call Bangladesh from USA?

BubblyPhone charges $0.06 per minute from the USA to Bangladeshi mobiles (as of October 2026), with no subscription, billed per started minute. Google Voice is cheaper at $0.02/min to mobiles if you have a US Google Voice account, and WhatsApp or IMO calls are free when your contact has the app. BubblyPhone's advantage is access: you can call from any browser without an app, a Google account or a US number.

Does WhatsApp calling work in Bangladesh?

Yes, WhatsApp voice and video calls work in Bangladesh. However, IMO is actually more popular than WhatsApp for voice/video calls in Bangladesh due to its lower data usage. Both apps require an internet connection on both ends. If your contact has limited data, IMO tends to work better on slower connections. To call a regular phone number (no app needed on the other end), use a calling service such as BubblyPhone.

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