Close Protection in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Dhaka is the capital and commercial heart of Bangladesh and one of the world’s most densely populated cities. It hosts a large development and NGO sector presence, a growing garment and manufacturing industry, and increasing corporate investment as Bangladesh’s economy continues to expand. The security environment is demanding, defined by an active terrorism threat, a volatile political cycle, and infrastructure constraints that compound every other risk category.

The 2016 Gulshan attack and its legacy

The July 2016 Holey Artisan Bakery attack killed 22 people, including foreign nationals from Italy, Japan, and the United States, at a restaurant in Dhaka’s Gulshan diplomatic district. The attackers specifically targeted the restaurant because of its foreign clientele, and the method – a coordinated armed assault by IS-affiliated individuals – demonstrated both intent and capability to strike the expatriate community in its most concentrated area.

Security in Gulshan has been significantly upgraded since 2016. Checkpoints, venue security screening, and an increased security force presence are now standard features of the district. The underlying terrorism threat has not been removed, and the practical implication for corporate visitors is that venues frequented by foreign nationals anywhere in Dhaka require the same heightened awareness that is now applied in Gulshan.

Political unrest and hartals

Hartals – general strikes called by political parties or organisations – are a recurrent feature of Bangladeshi political life. They can be called with limited notice and can effectively shut down transport across the city for hours or days, stranding personnel in accommodation, offices, or between locations. Political violence between rival party affiliates is documented and adds a direct physical dimension to the disruption risk during periods of elevated tension.

For corporate visitors, the practical response is to monitor the political calendar and maintain accommodation flexibility. Committing to movements or departures at periods of elevated political tension without contingency planning is the primary avoidable risk.

Traffic as a security factor

Dhaka’s traffic congestion is severe enough to function as a security constraint. Emergency response times are significantly affected. A medical emergency, security incident, or unplanned evacuation in Dhaka must be planned against realistic journey times measured in hours rather than minutes in many scenarios. This shapes venue selection, accommodation choice, and the value of identifying the nearest international-standard medical facility before arrival.

A security driver in Dhaka is therefore valued primarily for route knowledge and real-time awareness of conditions, rather than for driving technique alone.

Our operations in Dhaka

Our operators are registered under Bangladesh’s Ministry of Home Affairs licensing framework and have direct Dhaka experience. We provide close protection, security drivers, and residential security. All Dhaka deployments include a current political brief and contingency planning for hartal scenarios.

For context on the wider South Asian security environment, see our Karachi city page and our Mumbai city page.

Source: FCDO Bangladesh travel advisory (April 2026). Holey Artisan Bakery attack documentation, July 2016. OSAC Bangladesh Country Security Report 2025. Bangladesh Arms Act. WHO Bangladesh road safety data.