Essential cover
Bangladesh insurance needs to be carefully selected to provide the right cover if you are planning to live, travel or work in the country. A long history of political violence, severe flooding, dangerous road and river transport, and meagre medical facilities are potential hazards in Bangladesh. Special insurance may be advised if you are working in the Cox’s Bazaar district, due to the ongoing Rohingya refugee crisis.
Bangladesh is one of the world’s poorest and most densely populated countries. Low-lying on a delta of rivers, it is a frequent victim of cyclones and disastrous flooding. Poverty is widespread, and with it, disease and political discontent.
Suitable Bangladesh Health insurance with Emergency Medical Evacuation is a must, since medical facilities are often inadequate and remote regions are difficult for standard medical services to reach.
According to the FCDO, up to 150,000 British nationals visit Bangladesh every year. Most visits are trouble free, but terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks across the country. There have been several IED attacks targeting police and security forces in Dhaka, Khulna, Chittagong and Sylhet.
Be aware that demonstrations in public places can be sudden and often violent, and that crime such as mugging and pickpocketing is not uncommon. Although westerners are not specifically targeted, kidnap for ransom is on the increase.
Avoid the Chittagong Hill Tracts region where ethnic rivalries can lead to violence including gun battles and bombing. Likewise avoid the border area with India due to the risk of cross-border gunfire.
Road travel is hazardous due to poor maintenance and driving standards. River and sea ferries are often dangerously overcrowded and capsizing is not uncommon. Mariners are advised that piracy is a frequent problem in and around Bangladeshi waters and specialist maritime insurance is recommended.
Political uncertainty and occasional violence in the Cox’s Bazaar district and along the Myanmar border due to the ongoing Rohingya refugee crisis means Political Violence cover may be advisable, if you are working in these areas.
The Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in the UK regularly updates its advice to British travellers about immediate risks.