Bangladesh · Safety report last updated
As of July 2026, Chittagong scores 48/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: mostly — take normal precautions. Moderately safe for travelers willing to stay alert — Chittagong city itself is not under 'do not travel' guidance, but real crime concerns and weak governance require vigilance, especially after dark. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (high risk) and robbery (high risk).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Bangladesh · Assessed 29 July 2026
48
/ 100
Safer than ~38% of countries
What drives this score
01 · Official Guidance
Advises against all-but-essential travel to parts
“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 2026-07-15T11:12:09Z
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 2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00
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
High71% of residents worry about mugging or armed robbery; petty mugging and bag-snatching occur frequently, especially at night and in markets; avoid displaying cash, phones, or jewelry.
Pickpocketing
High68% report property crime as a major local problem; crowded markets, ferry terminals, and public transport are high-risk zones for bag-snatching and pickpocketing.
03 · Environment
04 · Institutions
05 · Field Research
Traveller sentiment score
Cautious but navigable
41/100
Residents feel moderately safe by day (54/100) but significantly unsafe at night (23/100). Visitors report needing to stay alert and avoid certain areas after dark, but daytime tourism and business travel are feasible with awareness. Recent political tensions remind travelers to check current events before and during their stay.
Moderately safe for travelers willing to stay alert — Chittagong city itself is not under 'do not travel' guidance, but real crime concerns and weak governance require vigilance, especially after dark.
Chittagong has a composite safety index of 54/100 (moderate), with genuine crime concerns—particularly property crime, mugging, and bag-snatching—but low terrorism and reasonable homicide rates. Governance is weak (corruption, rule of law, political stability all ~40/100), and residents report feeling unsafe at night (23/100). Political unrest has surfaced recently; the Chittagong Hill Tracts (Rangamati, Khagrachari, Bandarban) are explicitly off-limits.
Recent developments
Common scams
Full briefing
Bottom line: Chittagong is moderately safe for travelers prepared to stay aware. The city itself is not under a "do not travel" advisory—only the rural Chittagong Hill Tracts (Rangamati, Khagrachari, Bandarban) are explicitly off-limits. However, governance is weak, crime concerns are real (especially property crime and mugging), and political unrest has surfaced recently. Daytime navigation is feasible; nighttime carries measurable risk.
What the data shows on the ground: Chittagong's 54/100 safety index masks a split reality. Terrorism is virtually non-existent (0.01 deaths per million) and homicide is moderate (2.3 per 100k), but crowdsourced sentiment is sobering: only 23% of residents feel safe walking alone at night, and 71% worry about being mugged or robbed. Property crime is flagged by 68% as a major local problem. Road traffic is particularly dangerous (18.6 deaths per 100k), and governance is weak across the board—corruption, rule of law, and political stability all hover around 40/100. Institutions struggle to enforce order effectively.
Recent situation: The dossier reveals active civil unrest in Chittagong. In December 2025, vandals attacked the Indian Mission during political tensions. February 2026 saw labor strikes paralyze Chittagong Port; May 2026 brought garment worker protests that halted the Chittagong highway. While not direct threats to tourists, these signal a city experiencing real labor and political friction. The nearby Chittagong Hill Tracts saw violence in October 2025, reinforcing UK and Canadian advice to avoid those districts entirely.
How to stay safe: Stay in central, well-lit neighborhoods (Agrabad, Halishahar) and never walk alone after dark—use registered taxis (agree fares beforehand) or apps like Uber or Pathao. Keep valuables in your hotel safe; watch bags closely in crowded markets, ferries, and transport. Avoid large political gatherings or strikes (check news before visiting). Do not travel to Rangamati, Khagrachari, or Bandarban. Get vaccinated for Polio, Dengue, and Measles. Use ATMs inside banks or major shopping centers during daylight only. Watch for scams: taxi overcharging, fake guides, gem fraud, and card skimming are common. Stay aware, trust your instincts—you can visit Chittagong safely.
06 · Neighbourhoods
Our field research rated 7 Chittagong districts for visitors: 3 safer, 4 needing caution. See them plotted on the Chittagong safety map.
SadarghatcautionCentral commercial hub; crowded with pickpocketing risk; safe daytime but avoid after dark
ChawkbazarcautionOld city with congested lanes; high pickpocketing and petty theft; keep valuables close
KotwalicautionCentral district; mugging risk after dark; daytime okay with street awareness
NasirabadcautionMixed residential area; standard petty crime; avoid solo nighttime travel
AgrabadsaferCommercial district; business activity and police presence make it reasonably safe for daytime
HalishaharsaferAffluent residential area; lower crime rates than central Chittagong; safe during daylight
PahartalisaferCoastal residential neighborhood; quieter than center; safe in daytime hours
07 · After Dark
75% of people in Bangladesh say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2019).
71% of residents worry about mugging or armed robbery; petty mugging and bag-snatching occur frequently, especially at night and in markets; avoid displaying cash, phones, or jewelry.
After dark, be most careful around Sadarghat, Chawkbazar, Kotwali, Nasirabad. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Trip Profiles
Who's travelling changes which risks matter. These re-weight Chittagong's category data for common trip types — same data, different emphasis. Run your own profile from the interactive checker.
09 · Questions
Moderately safe for travelers willing to stay alert — Chittagong city itself is not under 'do not travel' guidance, but real crime concerns and weak governance require vigilance, especially after dark. Chittagong has a composite safety index of 54/100 (moderate), with genuine crime concerns—particularly property crime, mugging, and bag-snatching—but low terrorism and reasonable homicide rates. Governance is weak (corruption, rule of law, political stability all ~40/100), and residents report feeling unsafe at night (23/100). Political unrest has surfaced recently; the Chittagong Hill Tracts (Rangamati, Khagrachari, Bandarban) are explicitly off-limits. (Assessed 29 July 2026.)
Chittagong Hill Tracts (Rangamati, Khagrachhari, Bandarban) — UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel; deadly unrest reported Oct 2025; Port area and industrial zones after dark — labor strikes occurred Feb 2026; transport disruption possible. See the district-by-district safety map.
Chittagong ranks #5 of 6 Bangladesh destinations we've assessed, scoring 48/100. See the Bangladesh safety overview for the full list.
The score blends 13+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry 82% of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries 18%. Full methodology.
Browse the Bangladesh safety overview or all destinations. Raw data: chittagong.json (CC BY 4.0).
