Travel March 2025
Have you ever heard of a company that invites customers and followers to Bangladesh to see the production?
I haven't, but I have a desire to do so. So you are hereby invited on a journey to Bangladesh at the beginning of March 2025.
It has been exactly 10 years since I visited Bangladesh for the first time. And it was a HUGE eye-opener for me to see the big factories, where the seamstresses sit in long rows on one floor after the other, sewing clothes for the big brands that we all know and own clothes from.
It was (of course) even more impressive to see the small sewing rooms, i.e. the subcontractors to the large factories, where children as young as six sit in small basements in 45 degree heat and sew or sleep under the sewing table until there is a "change of duty".
That trip changed my outlook forever. It didn't necessarily make me a better consumer, but it certainly made me a much more reflective and enlightened consumer.
And then the trip was a great source of inspiration for building Manelleh💪🏾.
Since that trip 10 years ago, I have wanted everyone else to have this experience too. Because it is so important and rewarding to see different places and sides of the world in which we live (and shop).
And Bangladesh is something special. No matter how much or how little you may have traveled. Bangladesh is something very special.
I have allied myself with a travel agency that helps make the trip a reality. We will both visit the capital Dhaka and get out into the countryside in northern Bangladesh.
See the program below.
Kind regards
Maria🧡
Preliminary program
- Departure Copenhagen
- Arrival and accommodation at hotel in Dhaka
Morning: Morning meeting and review of the day's program at the hotel
Morning: Visit to the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum
In the morning we visit the museum, which was formerly Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's house. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is known as the father of the nation and the house is today a museum that gives an insight into the pride, national feeling and love for language and culture that characterize Bangladeshi society.
Afternoon: Visit to a local market
We visit the local Gulshan market to get an impression of the local life in Dhaka. At Gulshan market, people buy their daily necessities, but there are also interesting shops for travelers with pearls, brass, leather and real local silk by the meter. You can also buy cheap glasses of good quality. We naturally taste what the street vendors offer. Everything is 100% freshly made, so it is completely safe to eat.
Evening: Cruise and dinner by the river
We end the day with a boat trip on the Sitalakka River, see Bangladesh from the water side and have dinner by the river.
Morning: Morning meeting and review of the day's program at the hotel
Morning: Visit to the Danish Embassy in Bangladesh
We visit the embassy and hear about:
- The country's history, social conditions, economy, politics and culture
- More than 50 years of trade and cooperation between Denmark and Bangladesh
- The garment industry in Bangladesh and the working conditions in the factories
- Conditions for women and children in the country
Afternoon: Visit to a textile factory
In the afternoon we visit a textile factory. Bangladesh is the world's second largest textile producer, and much of the clothing sold in Denmark is produced in Bangladesh. During the visit, you get an impression of production in the clothing industry and the working conditions at the large textile factories.
Evening: Dinner at a local restaurant
Morning: Morning flight to Saidpur in northern Bangladesh
Morning: Arrival, transport and accommodation in Saidpur
Collection and review of today's program at the hotel
Dinner: Visit to Saidpur Enterprises
We visit Saidpur Enterprises, which is one of the organizations that Manelleh collaborates with. Saidpur Enterprises is a social-economic enterprise that employs and ensures decent, meaningful and dignified jobs for marginalized women. Here, the women receive a fair salary, annual bonus (dividend), pension and professional training. At Saidpur Enterprises, they make, among other things, new beautiful products out of old sarees.
Afternoon: Home visits with some of the women
We split into smaller groups and visit the homes of some of the women who work at Saidpur Enterprises. Here we get an insight into how the women and their families live and live - and not least what a difference it makes for them to have a good job. Home visits are a very special experience and often one of the experiences that is most personal and makes the biggest impression.
Evening: Dinner at a local restaurant
Morning: Visit to fair trade producer Bunon Kutir out in the countryside
We drive about two hours outside Saidpur far into the countryside, where we visit Bunon Kutir, which is one of the organizations that Manelleh collaborates with. Bunon Kutir works to create jobs for women in the rural areas of northern Bangladesh. Here the women receive a fair wage and at the same time help preserve and develop old craft traditions. Here they hand-weave carpets and weave beautiful baskets.
Afternoon: Fly back to Dhaka
Evening: Arrival, transport, accommodation and dinner at hotel in Dhaka
Morning: Visit to Arla, which in Bangladesh is called Dano
We visit the Danish company Dano (Arla). We hear the Danish director of Dano talk about how it is to operate as a Danish company
I Bangladesh.
Afternoon: Shopping and gift shopping
Evening: Dinner and finish in the Nordic Club
The Nordic Club is a recreational space where we can collect the impressions of the trip and evaluate the trip together.
Morning: Morning meeting and review of the day's program at the hotel
Morning: Visit to fair trade producer Tarango
We visit Tarango, which is one of the organizations that Manelleh collaborates with. Tarango is a recognized fair trade organization that works to give women the opportunity to be independent and live a life free from e.g. poverty, prostitution, violence and discrimination. At Tarango, the female artisans make beautiful baskets and bags primarily from jute. All products are naturally colored and hand woven or braided.
Afternoon: Visit to local NGO (Dhaka)
It is estimated that there are more than 1 million child laborers in Bangladesh. This afternoon we visit a local NGO (e.g. Save the Children in Bangladesh) to gain an understanding of the lives and conditions of children in Bangladesh. Here we learn more about child labor and get a nuanced perspective on the many dilemmas of child labor.
Evening: Dinner at a local restaurant
Departure from Dhaka and arrival in Copenhagen
Price, duration and time
Date: Early March 2025
Duration: 8 days including travel days
Price: Approximately DKK 16,500
DEADLINE FOR PRELIMINARY REGISTRATION: Friday, May 10
Payment: A deposit of DKK 3,000 is paid when the final program has been determined (upon final registration). The balance is paid 10 weeks before departure.
The package tour and price include:
- Return flight tickets to Bangladesh
- Accommodations in tourist hotels
- All transport incl. domestic flights
- Full board
- Local guide
- Visa
Not included: Travel insurance and any vaccinations.
Technical travel organizer is Viktors Farmor (Rejsegarantifonden
no. 1923), and you can read the trading conditions here .
Group trip to Bangladesh
- Bangladesh is one of the world's largest textile producers, but what does that really mean?
- What does the country look like and how do people live?
- What does the clothing industry look like and what are the working conditions like?
- And are there alternative ways to go in order to create a production that is more environmentally friendly and socially responsible?
You will find all that out on the journey.
Facts about Bangladesh
Location: Bangladesh borders India and Burma and is three times the size of Denmark.
Climate: Bangladesh has a subtropical monsoon climate. The average temperature rises from about 19 degrees in October-March to 29 degrees in April-September.
Population: +170 million people live in Bangladesh. About 98% are Bengalis.
Religion: Muslims make up 89.5% of the population. 9.6% are Hindus, and the rest on other religions.
Language: Bangla is the Bengali word for Bangladeshi - the mother tongue of 98% of the population.
Government: Republic
Currency: Taka
Time difference: 4 hours (summer time) and +5 (winter time)
Independence: In 1947, India is dismantled as a British colony, after which the country is divided in two. The area where the Muslims were in the majority became Pakistan, while the Hindus got India. Bangladesh became part of Pakistan and was then East Pakistan, while what is known today as Pakistan was called West Pakistan. In 1971, Bangladesh declares its independence from Pakistan and thus achieves independence.
Write to us if you want to hear more or sign up
2300 Copenhagen S
DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION:
Friday, May 10th