Think twice.
No major changes since yesterday.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about Bangladesh
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Think twice.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Don't fall for it
Scams to know
Drugged food or drink
Strangers may offer drugged food, drink, or smoke to tourists. Decline any items offered by strangers on buses or trains.
Airport taxi kidnappings
Taxi drivers have kidnapped tourists leaving Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the small hours of the morning. Remain at the airport until morning if you arrive at night.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Global Dengue
- • Global Measles
Vaccines
Required: Yellow Fever
Recommended: Chikungunya, Cholera, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Japanese Encephalitis, Malaria, Measles, Rabies, Typhoid
Source: CDC Travelers' Health →Getting in
What you'll need at the border
Bangladesh requires all foreigners to obtain permission, specifically a visa, to enter its territory unless exempted. Visas are issued by Bangladesh diplomatic missions located throughout the world or, if applicable, on arrival in Bangladesh.
Passport validity required: 60 months beyond entry.
Source: Wikipedia →Real, not invented
Terrorism
Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Bangladesh. Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks. These attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreign nationals, and places such as: public buildings, including restaurants and cafés public transport crowded areas religious buildings political rallies Some groups have targeted people who they consider to have views and lifestyles contrary to Islam, including religious minorities. Islamist extremist groups operate in Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi authorities continue to disrupt planned attacks. Increases in security force presence and restrictions on movement may be put in place at short notice. Remain aware of your surroundings. Avoid large gatherings and other locations with a police or security presence. Follow the advice of local authorities.
Source: UK FCDO →Real, not invented
Cultural & legal notes
Dress code
Both men and women should dress modestly to avoid causing offence. Women should cover their shoulders and legs in public.
Source: UK FCDO →LGBT+ travellers
Same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Bangladesh. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers .
Source: UK FCDO →From people who've been there
Local know-how
Staying safe
- •Dial 999 from any Bangladeshi mobile phone number or landline for police, fire or ambulance in case of any emergency.
- •It's best to not eat, drink or smoke anything offered to you by strangers as there is a growing problem in many Asian countries of drugging, and you're likely to see signs warning you against it on buses, trains, etc.
- •Speeding buses, coaches or trucks cause many accidents with numerous fatalities reported daily.
Staying healthy
- •Bottled water is recommended since BSTI has not certified the tap water as potable.
Adapted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA — edited by travelers, not us.
Right now
In the news the last few days
Real talk
What travelers actually say
Travelers looking at Bangladesh face a landscape defined by conflicting perspectives on risk. Official assessments from Australia have shifted the country to a yellow travel level, indicating a move away from higher-risk categories. However, personal accounts highlight significant concerns regarding political instability, including the threat of riots and terrorism, alongside the environmental danger of natural disasters. While some visitors rely on local family connections for security and navigation, others prioritize hiring guides for structured trips to maintain control. There is no consensus on safety, as individual comfort levels vary drastically between those seeking adventure and those prioritizing the security of dependents in a country perceived as having a slew of systemic problems.
“a good update is Australia updated Bangladesh to only YELLOW level for travel to its previous ORANGE (levels are from best to worst - green, yellow, orange and red)
— r/travel
“Bangladesh has a slew of problems from terrorism to political riots to the threat of natural disasters
— r/travel
“they claim it is safe but, there version of safe and my version of safe are two different things.
— r/travel
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
A / C / D / G · 220V
Driving side
left
Emergency
police: 999 / ambulance: 999 / fire: 999
Tipping
In upscale restaurants around 15% is expected, but outside of these at informal food joints and with street food vendors, it's the exception not the rule. Consider tipping the driver and delivery men modestly.
Cash vs. Card
The currency of Bangladesh is the Bangladeshi taka, denoted by the symbol "Tk" or "৳" (ISO code: BDT). Wikivoyage uses Tk to denote the currency. One taka is divided into 100 poysha.
Zoom in
One Bangladesh city on SKETCH.WORLD
Real, resident-submitted Numbeo crime data at the city level — the same national picture above, with crime swapped for what people who actually live there report.
Show the receipts (9 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-09-09
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-09-09
- ca-gac — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-09-09
- cdc-health — observed 2026-09-09
- wikivoyage — observed 2026-09-09
- reddit — observed 2026-09-09
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-09-09