Safe Bangladesh?

Bangladesh is a very safe travel country, everything else is simply nonsense. In a country where around 175 million very emotional people are at home, not every day is “love, peace and harmony” is clear. From rallies/demonstrations of all kinds you keep better away, there could be fireworks. There is, of course, a vicious crime. But this one plays among the natives. The state power, in the form of the police, will always be there for you and enjoys the highest respect in the whole society.

In the city and countryside

Cities, and railway stations are attracted to the shady characters, which is not an exclusivity of Bangladesh. Generally speaking, civilian police are still on the road in places of large crowds, but “opportunity makes a thief”. This is the case all over the world and it is up to you to take appropriate caution. Off the beaten track, Bangladesh is certainly one of the safest travel countries in the world. In the country, no one will even ever come up with the idea of cheating you, robbing you, or doing other things with you. The biggest danger of Bangladesh is the chaotic road traffic!

The traffic situation

Chaos also seems to follow its own rules. There is no traffic, as we understand it. In the cities, traffic policymakers are trying to master the situation, on the highways and roads there is only one law, the law of the strongest. Fortunately, all the traffic people know about this law, which makes the situation a bit more relative and you can see relatively few accidents or vehicle wrecks on the roadside – on the road, by bus on our YouTube channel. As pedestrians, you can’t be careful enough, no matter where!

Threat of terrorism

Terror wants to trigger fear. London, Brussels, Paris, Berlin, Nice, Manchester and one could enumerate further, also Dhaka was already a goal of an attack. We do not want to gloss over, but also do not dramatize anything. The ordinary Deshi is completely alien to any form of religious extremism. Traditionally, a very modern Islam is lived and we do not know a single one who wants to change that. Fanatics, who exist everywhere, represent a tiny minority. Insignificant in their number and their views. Through the medial attention which is given to them, they achieve their own goal: to trigger fear. “Kiss the Fascists, where you meet them!” Kurt Tucholsky, journalist and writer.

Strike, Hartal

A strike of private bus, rickshaw, auto rickshaw or ship operators is usually local limited, but can defeat your itinerary. A Hartal is of a political nature and rather rare. This is called out by the opposition party to lame the infrastructure and put the political opponent under pressure. A Hartal is called at very short notice and concerns cities, administrative units or the whole country, for periods of one to several days. This can, of course, have an impact on the traffic situation, in the worst case you can’t travel further, because the bus operators put off their business. Timetables become pure waste, only the flights of the (inter-) national airlines are unaffected. Increased police and army presence in cities, metropolitan centers and main traffic arteries is to ensure security. With accompaniment, some time and, above all, flexibility, there should always be a way out. Nevertheless, restrictions must be expected. Friday and Saturday are Hartal-free.

Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT)

The situation between the tribes living there and the government is something more, sometimes a bit less tense. This is due to the autonomous efforts of the ethnic groups living there. This is for information purposes only, in the last fifteen years there was no serious incident involving foreigners. A number of conditions apply to foreigners: Your travel must be requested and approved at least one month beforehand at the Ministry of Homeland Security in Dhaka. At least one week before, this must be registered by a letter to the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police of the respective district. Copies of the permit, the passport and visa, and a listing of travel purpose, accommodation and travel route. When entering or leaving the CHT and their administrative units, you pass checkpoints, which also require a copy. In general, after dark, you are not allowed to travel outside the localities and you are not allowed to spend the night with the tribes. The tribes themselves are hospitable and travelers are greeted with a smile.

Drug possession, smuggling

For all those who want to make problems themselves, this is mentioned: The minimum penalty for drug possession is two years. From twenty-five grams of heroin/cocaine or from two kilograms of marijuana possession, the death penalty can be imposed. Then there is the still applicable special powers act of 1974, according to which for the smuggling of all kinds, the death penalty can be imposed.