Most trips to Bangladesh start in Dhaka, with the river port of Sadarghat and the Mughal and colonial buildings of Old Dhaka, and continue to the Sundarbans mangrove forest, the tea gardens around Sylhet and Srimangal, the mosque city of Bagerhat or the long beach at Cox's Bazar. Many visitors also come for business or to see family. Bangladesh is not part of the EU's Roam Like at Home area, so a European SIM roams there at its operator's own rates.
Key facts for Bangladesh
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: Banglalink, Grameenphone (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: 999
- Embassies: in Dhaka
Areas to avoid
The UK advises against all but essential travel to the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the districts of Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban, where violence and crime are regularly reported, and foreigners must give the authorities 10 days' notice of a visit. Fighting in Myanmar close to the border makes the south-east unpredictable: insecurity, protests and violence are regularly reported in Cox's Bazar district, Teknaf has the worst drug-gang violence in the country, and you may need permission to travel to Ukhia and Teknaf, where most Rohingya refugees live. The US advises against all travel to the Hill Tracts, the areas near the Myanmar border and the refugee camps.
Dhaka
Coverage is strong across Dhaka. Criminal gangs operate in the city, and thieves often target passengers in the motorised rickshaws known as CNGs, especially at night, so avoid public transport if you are travelling alone; a private car with a driver is the most reliable way to get around. At Dhaka and Sylhet airports, ignore touts offering to carry your bags and watch out for overcharging taxis. Women travellers often face verbal and physical harassment.
Demonstrations and terrorism
Bangladesh held national elections in February 2026, and rallies, demonstrations and strikes, known as hartals, can turn violent quickly, with arson and vandalism. Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks, and security restrictions can be imposed at short notice, so stay away from protests and large gatherings.
The Sundarbans, Sylhet and the rivers
Khulna and Mongla, the gateways to the Sundarbans, have coverage, but the signal fades once your boat is deep in the mangroves, so download what you need before boarding. Ferries and launches can be dangerously overcrowded, especially around religious holidays, and some carry falsified safety certificates, so choose reputable operators. Road accidents are common, and cycle rickshaws on main roads are not safe. The monsoon, from June to September, brings widespread flooding, cyclones can strike the coast, and flash floods and landslides have hit the Hill Tracts, Cox's Bazar and Sylhet.
Laws to know
You may need a liquor permit to drink alcohol, and unlicensed drinks carry a risk of methanol poisoning. Drug offences carry severe penalties, and same-sex sexual activity is illegal. Both men and women should dress modestly, and during Ramadan you should not eat, drink or smoke in public in daytime.
Paying
The currency is the taka. Cards work in larger hotels and some shops in the main cities but rarely elsewhere, and many bills are paid in cash; cash machines take foreign cards, though they can charge high fees. Carry only the cash you need in public.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM set up before you fly connects when you land in Dhaka, and your home SIM can stay active for texts and bank codes. An Asia plan also covers India and Nepal.
Bangladeshi SIM cards from Grameenphone, Banglalink, Robi or Teletalk are sold at the airport and in operator shops, and registration requires your passport and fingerprints.
Consular protection: who to call in Bangladesh
- 999 connects you to the police, an ambulance or the fire service, although the operator may not speak English.
- Embassies are in Dhaka. The Telcomia app shows yours, with address and phone.
- EU citizens whose country is not represented in Bangladesh can ask the embassy of any other EU country for help, which it must give as it would to its own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
- Many flights to Bangladesh connect through Gulf hubs, where airspace closures linked to the conflict in the Middle East can disrupt schedules, so keep your airline's app up to date.
Bangladesh travel-safety page →
Questions travellers ask about Bangladesh
Will my EU plan work in Bangladesh?
Only at roaming rates, because Bangladesh is outside Roam Like at Home.
Can I visit the Chittagong Hill Tracts?
The UK advises against all but essential travel there and the US against all travel, and any visit needs 10 days' notice to the authorities.
Which networks does a Telcomia eSIM use in Bangladesh?
Banglalink and Grameenphone, with 4G where available.
What is the emergency number?
999, for the police, an ambulance or the fire service.
The short version
Set up the eSIM before you fly, use a car and driver rather than CNGs at night, stay away from rallies and hartals, skip the Hill Tracts and the Myanmar border, and save 999.
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