When someone dies in Bangladesh
Source: gov.uk (2025-09-04)

The process when a British national dies in Bangladesh, including registering the death, funerals and cremations, and bringing the person’s body to the UK.

Contacting the insurance company

If the person who died had insurance, contact their insurance company as soon as possible. Read the general guidance on what to do when someone dies abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/what-to-do-after-a-british-national-dies-abroad) if you’re not sure if they had insurance.

The insurance company should appoint a funeral director in Bangladesh and the UK. They may also cover the cost of bringing the person’s body to the UK (repatriation) and help with any medical, legal, interpretation and translation fees.

Getting a death certificate

You can apply for a death certificate from a doctor or hospital. You will need information and documents about the person who has died, including their official identity document – for example, their passport or national ID card.

You can ask for an English language version of the death certificate. It’s worth asking for extra copies, as you might need them to show to other people later.

Registering the death

To register the death with the local authorities (union council, municipal office or city corporation), you will need the hospital or doctor’s death certificate. You can only register the death with the local authorities if the person who died has a Bangladeshi birth certificate.

Post mortems in Bangladesh

A post mortem is a medical examination of the body. There might be one in Bangladesh if the cause of death is unknown, unnatural, sudden or violent.

Cultural or religious sensitivities may not be taken into account. ​​Small tissue samples and organs may be removed for testing without the family’s permission. You will not automatically be told if this happens.

If organs are removed, they will normally be returned before the person’s body is released for burial. In exceptional circumstances body parts may be kept without permission. This might happen if further investigation is needed. Next of kin may not be told if this happens.

Post mortem reports are not usually given to next of kin. If you have ​​a local lawyer, they can apply for a copy.

Burying or cremating the body in Bangladesh

A local funeral director (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find/funeral-directors?country=bangladesh) can arrange a burial or cremation in Bangladesh. The exact rules on burials and cremations are different depending on where you are in Bangladesh. Your funeral director can give you advice.

Bangladesh is a majority Muslim country, and burials normally take place on the day of the death or the following day. If there are special circumstances, such as a police investigation, the body will be kept at a mortuary facility.

Most graveyards require a doctor or a hospital’s death certificate and the government-issued ID of the person who died.

Cremation is normally done at a crematorium. You may need to transport the body to a main city to use a modern crematorium.

Bringing the body to the UK

Ask your funeral director about options for bringing the person’s body to the UK from Bangladesh.

When taking the person’s body to the UK from Bangladesh, you will need:
- the death certificate
- the passport of the person who died
- a certificate of embalming and a certificate giving permission to transfer the body – this will be arranged by the local funeral director
- a letter of no objection – next of kin can get this directly from the British High Commission in Dhaka (https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-high-commission-dhaka) or authorise a representative, such as a funeral director, to do this for them
Formalities for repatriation normally take 2 to 3 working days to complete.

Bringing the ashes to the UK

Ask your funeral director about the rules for bringing ashes to the UK.

Bringing the ashes to the UK yourself

If you are taking the ashes with you when you leave Bangladesh, you will need to:
- show the death certificate
- show the cremation certificate
- follow local regulations about leaving Bangladesh with ashes – your funeral director can give you more information
- tell the airline in advance
Arranging for the ashes to be taken to the UK

Ask your funeral director for advice if you cannot take the ashes yourself. You may not be able to send them by post or courier. Ashes can be shipped by air freight, although this can be expensive.

Getting the person’s belongings back

Belongings the person had with them when they died are usually given to the next of kin, or their authorised representative, without any formalities if the death was natural.

If you bring the person’s body to the UK, you can ask your local funeral director to collect all of the belongings and transport them together.

Belongings may be kept as evidence if there is an investigation into the death. These will only be returned when the court case is over.

Finding a Bengali translator

You may need a translator to help you understand Bangladesh’s rules or get documents translated. Check official translators in Bangladesh (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find/translators-interpreters?country=Bangladesh). The embassy or consulate in Bangladesh cannot provide translation services or pay for translation costs.

Finding a Bangladeshi lawyer

You may need a lawyer to help you understand Bangladesh’s legal system when someone has died. Check English-speaking lawyers in Bangladesh (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find/lawyers?country=bangladesh). The embassy or consulate in Bangladesh cannot give you legal advice or pay for legal costs.

Telling the UK authorities

Although you do not have to register the death in the UK, when someone dies abroad you still need to tell the UK authorities. Read general guidance on what to do when someone dies abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/what-to-do-after-a-british-national-dies-abroad) to find out what to do.

Contacting the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)

You can contact the FCDO if you still need advice:
- in the UK call xx-xxxx-xxxx
- see how to get help from the UK government abroad (https://www.contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/home)