# Close Protection in Chittagong, Bangladesh

Canonical page: https://closeprotectionhire.com/cities/chittagong/

Close protection and executive security in Chittagong, Bangladesh. Security drivers, bodyguard hire, and risk assessment for international business visitors to the main port.


## Threats

- **Terrorism**: Bangladesh's terrorism threat is assessed as high by the FCDO, which notes that attacks targeting foreigners and crowded places have occurred. Islamist extremist groups including IS-affiliated networks and Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) have conducted attacks in Bangladesh including in the Chittagong division. The July 2016 Dhaka Holey Artisan attack demonstrated the capability of Bangladesh-based groups to conduct high-casualty attacks targeting foreigners. Source: FCDO Bangladesh travel advice (2026).
- **Political Instability and Strike Action**: Bangladesh's political environment is frequently volatile. General strikes (hartals), blockades of major roads, and politically motivated violence have been documented. The 2024 political transition following the fall of the Hasina government created significant instability and ongoing political restructuring. Demonstrations and hartals can block routes to Chittagong port and the city's industrial districts for extended periods. Source: FCDO Bangladesh travel advice (2026).
- **Petty Crime and Fraud**: Petty theft and fraud targeting foreign visitors occur in Chittagong, particularly around the port area, markets, and public transport hubs. Confidence fraud and scams targeting business visitors in the shipping and textile sectors are documented. Source: Bangladesh Police crime reporting (2025).

## Regulations

- **Licensing**: Private security services in Bangladesh are licensed under the Private Security Services Act 2006 (Act No. 11 of 2006). Nobody may set up or run a private security service establishment without a licence under section 5. The licensing authority is the District Magistrate in a district and the Police Commissioner in a metropolitan area (section 6).
- **Firearms**: Section 12 of the Private Security Services Act 2006 says no person or private security service establishment may be licensed for firearms, weapons or ammunition under it. The one exception is armed Ansar and Village Defence personnel deployed for cash transport with the Ansar director's authorisation.
- **Foreign operators**: Section 7 of the Act limits licences to Bangladeshi citizens and to companies registered in Bangladesh, and section 9 requires security guards to be Bangladeshi nationals. A foreign company therefore works through a licensed Bangladeshi provider. Take local legal advice before a foreign team carries out protective duties.

Sources, checked 2026-10-07:

- [Laws of Bangladesh (Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division), Private Security Services Act 2006](https://bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd/act-print-935.html)
- [Prothom Alo, challenges and prospects of Bangladesh's private security services industry (24 July 2025)](https://www.prothomalo.com/opinion/lrj0xuq9qh)

## Zones

Lower-risk areas:

- Agrabad: The primary commercial and business district of Chittagong. International hotels, banks, and shipping company offices. The most developed security infrastructure in the city.
- Khulshi and Nasirabad: Residential areas housing the expatriate community and senior business figures. Lower crime profile than the port areas.
- Chittagong Export Processing Zone (CEPZ): Controlled-access industrial zone. Security managed at the zone level.

Elevated-risk areas:

- Chittagong Port and surrounding areas: High footfall, heavy vehicle traffic, documentary fraud risk targeting shipping operations.
- Old Chittagong (Chaktai and Khatunganj): Commercial commodity markets. Elevated theft and crowd-related risk.
- Sadarghat and river ferry terminals: High congestion, theft risk.

## Emergency contacts

- Police Emergency: 999
- Fire Service Emergency: 199
- Chittagong Medical College Hospital: +880 31 630 200
- Park View Hospital (best private facility): +880 31 250 4142
- British High Commission Dhaka: +880 2 8822705

## Warnings

- The terrorism threat in Bangladesh is high. Attacks targeting foreigners and crowded places have occurred. Avoid all demonstrations and political gatherings. Monitor FCDO Bangladesh travel advice and register with your embassy before arrival. Source: FCDO Bangladesh travel advice (2026).
- General strikes (hartals) and political blockades can close major routes including those to Chittagong port and the airport without notice. Monitor local news and maintain flexibility in travel plans.
- The Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) regions bordering Myanmar and India are subject to FCDO warning against all but essential travel due to ongoing security tensions. Do not travel to the CHT without specific security assessment.

Chittagong (officially Chattogram) is Bangladesh's second-largest city and the country's principal seaport, handling approximately 90% of Bangladesh's import-export trade. It is the operational hub for the ready-made garment industry's export infrastructure, Bangladesh's petroleum refining sector, and a significant shipbuilding and ship-breaking industry. International business travel to Chittagong is driven primarily by the garment sector -- international buyers, compliance auditors, and brand due diligence teams visiting manufacturing operations -- alongside shipping, energy, and infrastructure sector visitors.

## The security environment

The FCDO assesses the terrorism threat in Bangladesh as high, noting that attacks targeting foreigners and crowded places have occurred. The July 2016 Holey Artisan Bakery attack in Dhaka, which killed 22 people including multiple foreign nationals, established that Bangladesh-based extremist groups have the capability and intent to conduct mass-casualty attacks targeting foreign visitors. Chittagong, as a major commercial city, carries an elevated profile as a potential target for international attention. The FCDO also notes that political hartals and blockades can disrupt movement across the country, including the routes to Chittagong port and the industrial zones. Source: FCDO Bangladesh travel advice (2026). US State Department Bangladesh advisory Level 3 (2026).

## Business context

The Chittagong Export Processing Zone and the main industrial areas outside the port attract compliance teams, buyers, and operational visitors from global brands and shipping companies. The Agrabad commercial district has the most developed infrastructure for business visitors, including international-standard hotels and corporate facilities. The port area itself -- Sadarghat and the Chittagong Port Authority zone -- requires specific access management protocols for visiting port and logistics professionals.

*Sources: FCDO Bangladesh travel advice (2026). US State Department Bangladesh advisory (2026). Private Security Services Act 2006.*
For comparable operating environments, see our [Dhaka city briefing](/cities/dhaka/) and [Colombo city briefing](/cities/colombo/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What industries bring international business visitors to Chittagong?

Chittagong is Bangladesh's main seaport and the country's industrial heartland. The ready-made garment (RMG) industry -- Bangladesh is the world's second-largest garment exporter -- drives significant international buying and auditing visits from European and American brands. Shipping, shipbuilding, petroleum refining, and steel manufacturing also bring operational visitors. The CEPZ attracts manufacturing investors. Most business travel involves the port, the garment factories, and the Agrabad commercial district.

### Is Chittagong safe for foreign business visitors?

Chittagong is a working business city with a high terrorism threat environment and periodic political disruptions, but it is not a city where day-to-day business operations are prevented by constant insecurity. The primary risks for foreign visitors are the background terrorism threat, political strike action that disrupts movement, and petty crime. Appropriate security measures -- vetted transport, accommodation in Agrabad or Khulshi, and awareness of the political calendar -- reduce the relevant exposure to a manageable level. Source: FCDO Bangladesh travel advice (2026).

### What airport serves Chittagong?

Shah Amanat International Airport (CGP) is the international and domestic airport serving Chittagong. It receives international flights primarily from Gulf carrier hubs and regional Southeast Asian connections. Direct flights from London, Dhaka, and major South and Southeast Asian cities provide the main access routes. The airport is located approximately 18km from the Agrabad commercial district.

### What is the private security licensing framework in Bangladesh?

Private security companies in Bangladesh are licensed under the Private Security Services Act 2006, by the Police Commissioner in a metropolitan area and the District Magistrate elsewhere (section 6). Company registration and individual operator documentation should be verified before any engagement. The regulatory environment has been in reform since the post-2024 political transition.