Is It Safe to Travel to Bangladesh in 2026?
Bangladesh - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world with a population of almost 177.8 million people within an area of 148,461 square kilometres (57,321 sq mi).
Is It Safe to Travel to Bangladesh in 2026?
Bangladesh is currently rated Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution by the U.S. Department of State. Exercise increased caution in Bangladesh due to unrest, crime, terrorism, and kidnapping. Protests can occur and turn violent without notice; avoid all gatherings, even peaceful ones. In major cities, common crimes include muggings, burglaries, assaults, and illegal drug trafficking. There is a risk of terrorist violence, including attacks and other activities. Kidnapping risks are present in the Chittagong Hill Tracts Region and areas near the border with Burma.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- civil_unrest
- crime
- terrorism
- kidnapping
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: Protests can occur and turn violent without notice; avoid all gatherings, even peaceful ones., Common crimes include muggings, burglaries, assaults, and illegal drug trafficking., There is a risk of terrorist violence, including attacks and other activities..
Active restrictions in Bangladesh:
- Movement restrictions in effect
Consult with the embassy security office before any overnight travel within Dhaka.
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face significant risks from street crime, including muggings and assaults, particularly in urban areas where petty crime is prevalent.
Business travelers may encounter operational disruptions due to civil unrest and crime, but major hotels and business districts generally maintain a higher security presence.
Families with children should be cautious due to limited healthcare access outside major cities and the risk of crime and civil unrest in public spaces.
Remote workers may find reliable internet in urban areas, but should avoid travel outside major cities due to safety concerns and potential connectivity issues.
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
- areas near the border with Burma
- refugee camps near Cox’s Bazar
▶Level 4 — Do Not Travel3 regions
▶areas near the border with Burma
Do not travel to this area for any reason due to unrest, crime, and kidnapping.
▶Chittagong Hill Tracts Region
Do not travel to this region for any reason due to unrest, crime, terrorism, and kidnapping.
▶refugee camps near Cox’s Bazar
Do not travel to this area for any reason due to unrest, crime, and kidnapping.
Bangladesh has 3 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
Travel insurance for Bangladesh
Protect your trip to Bangladesh — medical care, trip cancellation, and emergency evacuation, wherever you're headed.
Mobile data in Bangladesh
Skip roaming fees — get an eSIM and land in Bangladesh with data already working.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Bangladesh has an overall threat severity of 4.5 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 6.0/10, terrorism risk 5.0/10, and kidnapping risk 5.0/10.
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
Check embassy for details
Currency
Taka (BDT)
Language
Bengali
Notable restrictions:
- drug possession illegal including medical marijuana
- e-cigarettes prohibited
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.