Is Bangladesh Safe for Travel?

Bangladesh is one of the least visited countries in the world, and I feel very sad about it. There are many reasons why tourists don’t visit this country often. Most of these reasons are baseless. Almost every traveller who has been to Bangladesh gets asked- is Bangladesh safe for travel? Well, it definitely is.

Today I’ll tell you about all the reasons why people fear visiting Bangladesh, and by sharing my experience, I’ll remove your fear of travelling to Bangladesh. So, let’s see how safe Bangladesh is for travellers.

Terrorism in Bangladesh

I guess this is the number one reason why people think that Bangladesh is not safe for travellers. And this fear exists in the heart of travellers for every Muslim country in the world. A major part of Bangladesh is Muslim, but there are other religions too.

If we look at the terrorism history of the country, there has been only one terrorist attack in Bangladesh in the last couple of years. So, I think the fear of terrorism should be the least concerned reason for not visiting Bangladesh.

Being Targeted

A significant number of crimes take place in Bangladesh almost every day. But as a foreigner, you definitely shouldn’t fear that. Most travellers before coming to the country think that they might be targeted and get robbed or pickpocketed.

But there’s a huge benefit of travelling to Bangladesh as a foreigner or a westerner. The benefit is that you are always being watched out by everyone. Every person walking on the streets has their eyes on you. The shopkeepers, drivers, and police are watching you out. And they are looking out for you with good intentions and to keep you safe. So, if you want to get this kind of celebrity feeling, then grab yourself a visa and fly to Bangladesh immediately.

And in case someone wants to harm you or comes to rob you, the nearby people will come running for your help. So when you are in Bangladesh there’s no way that you’d be getting targeted negatively. Because the good people are always there watching for you and trying their best to help you.

With so many eyes looking at you, it might feel uncomfortable to you at first. But you shouldn’t be afraid of it as people staring at you don’t have any negative intentions. They’re just curious and looking forward to communicating with you, knowing more about you and helping you out.

Pollution

Talking about the entire Bangladesh, pollution is nothing much to worry about. But since for most of the parts of your journey, you would be probably staying in Dhaka, it’s something to worry about. Dhaka is one of the most polluted cities in the world.

But the other parts of Bangladesh like Sylhet, Chittagong, Cox’s Bazaar etc., are very less polluted compared to the capital. If you already have any health problems that might worsen due to pollution you shouldn’t spend much time in Dhaka. You can spend most part of your journey in other cities and then spend a day or two in Dhaka.

If you don’t have any severe health problems, take your time and explore Dhaka as much as you can. It’s indeed a beautiful city that you shouldn’t miss checking out. Since you’re not settling in Dhaka for a lifetime, the pollution can’t do you much harm if you just stay there for a few days.

Population

Bangladesh ranks as the 8th most populated country in the world. And Dhaka is one of the most populous cities in the world. In fact, Dhaka is the most populated city in Bangladesh. So, you should only visit Bangladesh if you don’t have any problem with the crowd.

For travellers, the population of Bangladesh can be counted as both positive and negative side. Because of being surrounded by crowds, there are fewer chances of being robbed. However, pickpockets are so good at their jobs that they can also do it very well in crowds. Again, the traffic of Dhaka can seem very exhausting to you.

Honestly, Dhaka is really chaotic. But the nightlife in Dhaka is beautiful and amazing. Although it’s not safe to roam around in Bangladesh at night, the cities remain busy till eight or nine, so you can roam around till then.

Hygiene

When you are in Bangladesh, you shouldn’t limit yourself to hotel food. Go out and try out the street foods. And this is where most travellers lag behind by thinking about the hygiene of street food. If you ask any random student of any university in Bangladesh, you’ll know that they try out the street food every day without facing much of a health problem.

I agree that the street food in Bangladesh is not as hygienic as those in developed countries, but it’s not as bad as you think it is. You might be sick one or two times for trying out a new cuisine that your stomach might not suit, but it won’t be due to hygiene issues.

Also, I’d suggest eating food in busy local restaurants as they serve fresh food straight out of the stove. If you check out the youtube channels of various Bangladeshi food bloggers, you’ll see that the high-end restaurants also serve great food. So, the call is on you!

No matter wherever you choose to have a meal in Bangladesh, let me assure you that the hygiene is on a good level. It’s not bad or great; it’s just medium.

Accidents

Road mishaps occur in every country, and none of us can stop that or change that. We can just be a little precautious. However, the bus drivers of Bangladesh, especially Dhaka, do rash driving which causes severe accidents almost every day.

Sometimes, these buses run over other vehicles and things get quite bad. So, I’d say avoid travelling by bus within Dhaka. You can use other methods of transportation like taking an Uber, CNG or a rickshaw.

So, these are some of the reasons why people often ask- is Bangladesh a safe country for travel? But there is another reason why people hesitate to visit Bangladesh. And it is the language barrier.

Language Barrier

Tourists coming to Bangladesh often face problems explaining themselves to the locals. Most people in Bangladesh don’t understand English, but they try their best to communicate with tourists. But if you find a university student on your journey, they might help you in communicating with other people.

Bangladeshis are extremely hospitable and will always try to help you out. You just have to be patient and try to overlook or overcome this language barrier.

Is Bangladesh safe for female travellers?

Female travellers rarely come to visit Bangladesh as they hear about many rape incidents happening around the country. But when a female foreign traveller comes to visit Bangladesh, no such incidents happen. But this isn’t because the rapists disappear or something like that, but rather because the female travellers maintain all caution. 

As a female traveller in Bangladesh, you should follow the local dress code to show respect for the country’s culture. The local clothing of Bangladesh is modest and extremely comfortable. You can also choose to wear anything else but make sure your clothing is modest. Avoid going out at night, especially avoid a bus when it is almost empty or only has a few men inside. And whenever you get on a bus, try to sit at the front near the driver.

You might feel uncomfortable due to all the people looking at you. But it happens to every tourist, both men and women. As few tourists visit the country, the local people are always curious and want to communicate with the tourists that come to visit the country.

Overall, I’d say that Bangladesh is a safe country for travel. You just have to be cautious, just like the way you’re while travelling to any other country. Also, avoid going out during the night(after 8/9 pm) as it’s not safe.

Travelling to Bangladesh is going to be an entirely different experience. Like every other country in the world, Bangladesh is full of natural and historical wonders that you should definitely check out. If you have already visited India, you might have an idea about what travelling to Bangladesh would feel like. So, let us know about your experience in Bangladesh in the comments below. And what do you think? Is Bangladesh safe for travel?