Is it Safe to Travel to Bangladesh in 2025?
Bangladesh is relatively off the radar when it comes to tourism.
For some perspective, only 200,000 tourists visited Bangladesh in 2023, compared to 10 million foreigners travelling to neighbouring India.
Why is this? Could it be due to common misconceptions about safety and culture in Bangladesh?
To add to the already-present bias, the July student protests have led to international tourists being concerned with their safety in Bangladesh even more.
In this travel guide, we will explain the build-up to the events of the summer, as well as address all your safety concerns for visiting Bangladesh - answering your question; is it safe to travel to Bangladesh in 2025?
Is Bangladesh Safe To Travel?
I will answer you right here and now, yes Bangladesh is safe to travel to. Even the UK Government Travel Advice Website has reinstated Bangladesh to 'Green' status (not that I pay much attention to that), and anyone who has been there recently can attest to the fact that is generally peaceful and stable across the country.
Despite this, there are still scaremongerers about, which is evident in the fact that India has still not resumed inter-country trains to Bangladesh due to 'instability'.
So let's explain what actually happened in Bangladesh this year...
Understanding the Recent Protests in Bangladesh
The protests in Bangladesh in July and August 2024 were triggered by the reinstatement of a controversial government job quota system, where 30% of government job positions (the most coveted jobs in Bangladesh are government jobs) are allocated to the descendants of independence war veterans.
Many viewed this as favouring the ruling party’s supporters, and the progressive student population were especially pissed off, essentially asking why they were bothering to study when 30% of the most prized jobs in the country were being given away through the act of nepotism.
The protests quickly escalated to include all sorts of other current grievances, especially highlighting systemic corruption and political favouritism.
What began as peaceful demonstrations led by students and civil society groups turned into nationwide unrest after the government responded with excessive force.
'Security measures' included police crackdowns, mass arrests, and a temporary internet shutdown, which disrupted communication and increased public anger. Reports indicated hundreds of people died, thousands were injured, and there were widespread human rights violations during this period.
The Situation Now
After Sheikh Hasina, who had been the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for 15 years, tried to crack down on the protests, she realised it was sparking more anger and made a run for it, fleeing to India in early August 2024 (where she is currently in hiding).
After this, an interim government quickly assumed control in Bangladesh aiming to restore stability. The immediate violence subsided and the overall security situation has improved, particularly in major cities and tourist regions. The government has taken steps to rebuild public trust, such as initiating investigations into alleged abuses by law enforcement during the protests.
Now, Bangladesh’s major tourist destinations, such as Dhaka, the Sundarbans, Cox’s Bazar, and the historical sites of Bangladesh are generally considered safe. Tourist areas are well-monitored, and there is no indication that foreigners were targeted during the unrest.
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Safety Precautions You Can Take When Travelling Bangladesh
So, yes, Bangladesh is safe for tourists - but as always there are some precautions you should take when travelling there:
Avoid political gatherings and public protests, this sort of goes without saying.
Keep an eye on the news and listen to local advice.
Be cautious in rural areas - While urban centres have stabilised, some rural regions may experience a slower recovery from the unrest.
If you are travelling with a tour, choose a reputable guide (read reviews and agree on a price beforehand).
Respect local customs - Bangladesh is a conservative country and understanding cultural norms will enhance your experience. For example, if you are an atheist, it is best to just pick a religion you 'follow' - as saying you do not believe in god can be offensive as you are insinuating theirs does not exist.
Female Safety in Bangladesh
As women know, the male and female travel experience is completely different. As a female traveller, I found the people of Bangladesh to be exceptionally respectful, and not once did anyone cross any lines.
People stare a lot, yes, but not in a creepy way, more of a curious/dumbfounded way.
I wore t-shirts and cargo pants the entire time I was in Bangladesh and did not feel out of place, and I kept a shawl handy for religious sites.
In Bangladeshi culture, men do not touch women they are not related to, so no one should be touching you at all, for example, if they have asked for a selfie, they would keep a small distance between bodies. In the same way, if a man sits next to you on the bus when there are plenty of other free seats available, ask them to move. Setting boundaries in this way can help prevent uncomfortable situations.
I always carry my "Empowered by Ashley" personal alarm, which when triggered is louder than a jet engine, but thankfully I have never had to use it.
Conclusion
While Bangladesh faced a turbulent period during the protests, it is steadily regaining stability and is now safe for tourists.
Bangladesh has so much to offer, and after being there, it absolutely baffles me why it is not more on the tourist radar. From the UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Sundarbans mangrove forest to the serene tea plantations in Sylhet, the country offers unique cultural and natural experiences and is quite frankly, a photographer's paradise.
Most adventurers I know take government travel advice with a pinch of salt, it can often be out of date and politically biased (Iraq is a great example of that). In my experience, it is much more valuable to connect with well-informed and like-minded locals or speak to international tourists who have recently been there, who im sure you can find on the excellent Facebook group, Every Passport Stamp.
Lastly, if you want to put your mind completely at ease, you have the option to book a tour with Been Tours, who will take care of every detail of your trip. So do check out their packages and see which parts of Bangladesh grab your attention the most!
Thank you so much for reading our blog post: Is Bangladesh Safe for Travel in 2025?
The information for this blog post was provided by Been Tours and edited by I Dream of Mangoes. The photos were generously provided by happy customers of Been Tours.
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