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Bangladesh · Safety report last updated
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Bangladesh · Assessed 13 October 2026
63
/ 100
What drives this score
01 · Official Guidance
Advises against all travel to parts of the country
“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Areas where FCDO advises against all but essential travel FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the Chittagong Hill Tracts, an area made up of the districts of: Rangamati Khagrachari Bandarban Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.”
Updated 2026-10-09T10:14:33Z
Full advisory →Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)
“Canada's official risk level for Bangladesh: exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories).”
Updated 2026-09-24T08:53:33.120000-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Mugging & robbery risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Pickpocketing & theft risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Visitor safety sentiment
City SignalCity Web Research
Urban scale factor
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
Robbery / mugging
ModerateMugging risk is low to moderate, mainly in isolated areas after dark; avoid poorly lit streets and empty parks at night.
Pickpocketing
ModeratePickpocketing and bag-snatching occur in crowded spots like Station Road, Agrabad, and near the railway station; stay vigilant with belongings.
03 · Environment
04 · Institutions
05 · Field Research
Traveller sentiment score
Mostly positive
70/100
Recent reports indicate most visitors feel safe walking alone after dark in Chittagong, with low concern for violent crime but awareness of petty theft in busy areas.
Yes, Chittagong is moderately safe for visitors who exercise caution, particularly avoiding the Hill Tracts and staying alert in crowded areas.
Chittagong has a moderate composite safety score of 61/100, with low homicide and terrorism risks but weaker institutions and occasional crime. Visitors generally feel safe walking after dark, though petty theft and scams targeting foreigners occur in busy zones. The Canadian and UK advisories urge caution, especially regarding the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Recent developments
Common scams
Full briefing
Chittagong presents a mixed but manageable safety picture for travelers. While the city benefits from relatively low homicide and terrorism risks, governance indicators show weaknesses in rule of law and corruption control, which can affect consistency of services. The composite safety index of 61/100 reflects moderate overall conditions, with visitors reporting generally positive experiences walking alone after dark, though petty crime remains a concern in high-traffic areas. Recent reports highlight ongoing efforts to promote tourism, including a digital itinerary launch for World Tourism Day 2026 and government steps to attract foreign visitors to the Chittagong Hill Tracts, despite advisories against non-essential travel there.
Street-level risks are primarily opportunistic. Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are noted in commercial hubs like Station Road and Agrabad, particularly around markets and transport nodes. Mugging is less common but possible in poorly lit or isolated areas after dark, so using registered transport at night is advisable. A notable trend involves online fraud, with 63 foreign nationals arrested in September 2026 for such offenses, indicating scams targeting visitors do occur. Travelers should avoid sharing personal information with unverified contacts and use secure payment methods.
Practical precautions go a long way. Stick to well-lit, populated streets after dark, avoid displaying valuables, and be cautious when approached by overly friendly strangers offering unsolicited help or tours. While the city hosts cultural events and tourism fairs — such as the international tourism fair inaugurated in October 2026 — the UK and Canadian advisories maintain caution due to regional instability in the Hill Tracts, where past unrest and natural hazards like landslides have required military intervention. Health-wise, dengue and polio precautions are warranted, and air quality remains moderate. By staying alert and informed, visitors can navigate Chittagong safely while enjoying its port-city charm and proximity to coastal and hill destinations.
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06 · Neighbourhoods
Our field research rated 8 Chittagong districts for visitors: 3 safer, 3 needing caution and 2 best avoided. See them plotted on the Chittagong safety map.
HalishaharavoidDensely populated area with reports of mugging and robbery; avoid especially at night.
ChawkbazaravoidHistoric market with high pickpocketing and theft risk; avoid carrying valuables.
Agrabad Commercial AreacautionBusiness hub with moderate pickpocketing risk; avoid walking alone after dark.
NasirabadcautionResidential zone with occasional theft; exercise caution after dark.
EPZ (Export Processing Zone)cautionIndustrial area with moderate security; avoid isolated zones after dark.
Patenga Beach AreasaferPopular seaside destination with visible police patrols; safe during daylight hours.
KhulshisaferUpscale residential area with lower crime rates; generally safe for visitors.
Foy's Lake AreasaferTourist-friendly recreational spot with regular security presence; safe during day.
07 · After Dark
75% of people in Bangladesh say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2019).
Mugging risk is low to moderate, mainly in isolated areas after dark; avoid poorly lit streets and empty parks at night.
After dark, be most careful around Halishahar, Chawkbazar, Agrabad Commercial Area, Nasirabad. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
Yes, Chittagong is moderately safe for visitors who exercise caution, particularly avoiding the Hill Tracts and staying alert in crowded areas. Chittagong has a moderate composite safety score of 61/100, with low homicide and terrorism risks but weaker institutions and occasional crime. Visitors generally feel safe walking after dark, though petty theft and scams targeting foreigners occur in busy zones. The Canadian and UK advisories urge caution, especially regarding the Chittagong Hill Tracts. (Assessed 13 October 2026.)
Safety is not one number, and this Chittagong report does not pretend it is: the score is re-weighted for who is travelling. A woman travelling alone, a family with children and a solo backpacker face different street-level risks, so the headline score shifts and the report leads with the findings that matter for that group. Personalize this report in one click to see the 2026 score and safety briefing for your specific travellers.
Field research flags Halishahar, Chawkbazar as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
Chittagong ranks #1 of 6 Bangladesh destinations we've assessed, scoring 63/100. See the Bangladesh safety overview for the full list.
The score blends 12+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, FBI crime data for U.S. cities, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry the bulk of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries the rest. Full methodology.
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Raw data: chittagong.json (CC BY 4.0).
