Sense of Privacy in Bangladesh: A Matter of Perspective

Being a foreigner in Bangladesh is not easy. The Bangladeshis always want to talk to you. They are very curious and they stare. It's not impolite to stare in their culture. They will stare at you as long as they want. And even if you stare back, they won't budge.

And not only stare. They will also actually ask you very personal questions without blinking. Like if you're married, and if yes, where's your spouse, how many children you have, how old they are, etc. If no, then why not, and if you have a special friend back home or here, etc.

It's actually just harmless curiosity and they want to practice their English with you. Besides, it's somehow prestigious for them to talk, and especially befriend, a foreigner or a “bideshi”. They would brag to their family and friends if they have talked to a bideshi, even if it was for only a few minutes. So, it's normal if you get invited to the house of someone whom you just met in the streets.

But sometimes, it gets too much. They have a different sense of privacy. They entertain visitors in the bedroom. So, when they enter your flat, they wouldn't hesitate to enter your bedroom or examine your things and clothes. Even to the point of opening your closets or drawers. They think that that is a normal thing to do because that’s what they do with other locals.

Some volunteers, especially those placed in the rural areas shared stories of being horrified about having their Bangladeshi visitors go through their things and find out very personal gadgets like a dildo. To an adult, you can brush it off as a tool for HIV&AIDS-related awareness raising campaigns or workshops. But it would have been a different scenario if children were to find them.

Bangladeshis are very friendly and very curious, particularly in the villages. Not so much in Dhaka though. The people in Dhaka are somehow more reserved. Probably because it is the capital and the people are more exposed to western and other cultures, although you would still get the occasional stares and questions.

Sometimes, neighbors would even knock on your door to try to befriend you. But of course, if you're a foreigner, you can never be too careful about letting strangers inside your flat. We don't even do that at home. And we have also been warned to be extra cautious, being a foreigner.

In a very poor country where most people haven’t even been outside their village, much less the country, the stereotype of foreigners being rich is still very strong. They think still that all foreigners have money.