How safe is Bangladesh for travelers?

The travel advice, stated first

• The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the Chittagong Hill Tracts, meaning the districts of Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban.
• Canada adds a practical step for anyone who goes anyway: contact the Chittagong Divisional Commissioner's Office at least 10 days before arriving.
• The rest of the country carries no such advisory, including Dhaka, Chittagong city and Cox's Bazar.

Politics on the street

• Hartals, the general strikes, bring arson, violence and vandalism to towns and cities and have caused deaths. They are announced, so ask your hotel.
• Crowds gather on Friday afternoons after Jumma prayers, and clashes can start at any time.
• Bangladesh held national elections on 12 February 2026, and political rallies still turn violent quickly.
• If you see a demonstration starting, move away. Do not photograph it.

Crime

• Violent crime has increased since the July and August 2024 uprising. Criminal gangs operate in Dhaka and other cities.
• Thieves work in pairs on motorcycles or CNGs, and target passengers on rickshaws, taxis, buses, trains and ferries, particularly around dusk.
• Avoid public transport if you are travelling alone, which is the FCDO's phrasing rather than a paraphrase.

Women travellers

• There is a risk of sexual assault, including attacks on female foreign visitors. Verbal and physical harassment by individuals or groups of men is common.
• Avoid isolated areas when alone at any time of day, and be particularly careful at night.
• Do not travel by bus alone or at night. The FCDO lists rape and sexual assault among bus risks, sometimes committed by the crew.

Alcohol and methanol

• You may need a liquor permit to drink in a government-licensed bar. Check at the local district office.
• That restriction has created a black market, and the black market uses methanol. People have died. You cannot taste or smell it. Buy sealed drinks in licensed venues only, and get urgent medical help if someone is unwell after drinking.

Laws

• Drug offences carry the death penalty or life imprisonment.
• Same-sex sexual activity is illegal.
• Carry a copy of your passport photo page and visa, keep the originals safe, and expect officials to ask.
• Dress modestly. Both men and women; women should cover shoulders and legs in public.

Roads and water

• Road accidents are common, with unroadworthy vehicles and drivers who do not dip headlights at night. Avoid driving alone at night, when there is also a robbery risk between towns.
• Ferry accidents are common, from poor safety practice and weather.
• Flooding and landslides hit the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Cox's Bazar and Sylhet, sometimes with little warning.