Is It Safe to Travel to Bangladesh in 2026?
Bangladesh - Level 3: Reconsider Travel
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
⚠ Reconsider Travel
The U.S. State Department recommends reconsidering travel to Bangladesh due to elevated risks. Key factors: kidnapping, civil_unrest, crime, terrorism.
Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world and among the most densely populated with a population of over 174 million within an area of 148,460 square kilometres (57,320 sq mi).
Is It Safe to Travel to Bangladesh in 2026?
Bangladesh is currently rated Level 3 — Reconsider Travel by the U.S. Department of State. Unrest and violence have decreased since summer 2024 with the formation of the Interim Government, but occasional protests continue with the potential for violent clashes. Common crimes in major cities include muggings, burglaries, assaults, and illegal drug trafficking, with petty crime being prevalent in crowded areas. Terrorist violence remains a risk in Bangladesh, including attacks and other activities. The Chittagong Hill Tracts Region has a high risk of kidnapping, unrest, crime, and terrorism, and travel to this area is strongly discouraged.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- kidnapping
- civil_unrest
- crime
- terrorism
The overall security situation has been improving recently. Contributing factors: Unrest and violence have decreased since summer 2024, Occasional protests continue with the potential for violent clashes.
Active restrictions in Bangladesh:
- Movement restrictions in effect
- Security escort may be required
U.S. government employees cannot travel outside the diplomatic enclave for non-essential reasons.
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face significant risks from petty crime and potential violent protests, particularly in urban areas where muggings and assaults are common.
Business travelers may encounter operational disruptions due to civil unrest and crime, but major cities have reliable infrastructure and accommodations.
Families with children should be cautious due to limited healthcare access and the risk of kidnapping in certain regions, particularly the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Remote workers may find decent connectivity in urban centers, but should avoid areas with high crime and civil unrest, and be prepared for potential travel restrictions.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Bangladesh.
Regional Safety Breakdown
Do Not Travel Zones
The U.S. State Department advises against all travel to the following areas due to extreme risk:
- Chittagong Hill Tracts Region
- Khagrachari
- Rangamati
- Bandarban Hill Tracts
▶Level 4 — Do Not Travel4 regions
▶Bandarban Hill Tracts
Part of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, do not travel due to high risks.
▶Chittagong Hill Tracts Region
Do not travel to the Chittagong Hill Tracts due to unrest, crime, terrorism, and kidnapping.
▶Khagrachari
Part of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, do not travel due to high risks.
▶Rangamati
Part of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, do not travel due to high risks.
Bangladesh has 4 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Bangladesh has an overall threat severity of 7.5 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 6.0/10, terrorism risk 5.0/10, and kidnapping risk 7.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Partly Free — scored 40/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Required
Currency
Taka (BDT)
Language
Bengali
Notable restrictions:
- Drug possession is illegal, including medical marijuana.
Vaccinations
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: moderate
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- watchGlobal Dengue: Dengue is a year-round risk in many parts of the world, with outbreaks commonly occurring every 2–5 years. Travelers to risk areas should prevent mosquito bites.
- alertGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Bangladesh
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Bangladesh?
▶Is it safe to travel to Bangladesh right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Bangladesh?
▶What vaccines do I need for Bangladesh?
▶Is Bangladesh safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Bangladesh?
More Bangladesh Data
Partly Free — 40/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.