# Close Protection in Dhaka, Bangladesh Canonical page: https://closeprotectionhire.com/cities/dhaka/ Close protection and executive security in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Terrorism and hartal-aware planning, vetted transport and licensed operators for corporate visitors. ## Threats - **Terrorism**: The July 2016 Holey Artisan Bakery attack in Dhaka's Gulshan district killed 22 people, including 9 Italians, 7 Japanese, and 1 American, and demonstrated that IS-affiliated groups have both intent and capability to target foreign nationals in Bangladesh. The FCDO maintains a high terrorism threat rating for Bangladesh. Security at venues frequented by foreigners in Gulshan has been significantly upgraded since 2016, but the underlying threat has not been removed. - **Civil Unrest**: Bangladesh experiences frequent and sometimes violent political unrest. General strikes (hartals) and opposition blockades can immobilise the city with limited warning, effectively shutting down transport for hours or days. Political violence between party affiliates is documented and can affect movement and safety in ways that are difficult to predict. - **Traffic and Infrastructure**: Dhaka has among the worst traffic congestion globally. Emergency response times are severely affected. Road safety standards are poor, and road accident fatality rates are high. The combination creates significant risk during security incidents, medical emergencies, or any situation requiring rapid movement. - **Flooding and Natural Hazards**: Dhaka experiences severe flooding during the monsoon season, which can disrupt transport and communications for extended periods and effectively close roads. Bangladesh is also vulnerable to cyclones affecting the coast and conditions that indirectly affect Dhaka's infrastructure. ## 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: - Gulshan 1 and 2: Primary diplomatic and expatriate area with significantly enhanced security following the 2016 attack. Higher checkpoints and venue security than the rest of the city. - Banani: Commercial and residential area adjacent to Gulshan, generally manageable for business activity during normal periods. - Baridhara DOHS: Military housing development used by senior diplomats and NGO leaders; high-security residential zone. Elevated-risk areas: - Old Dhaka: Congested, limited emergency vehicle access, higher petty crime and crowd risk. - Motijheel during political events: Central business district is a focal point for demonstrations and hartals. - Any location during an active hartal: Movement restrictions can strand personnel across all districts with limited warning. ## Emergency contacts - National Emergency Service (police, fire and ambulance on one number: say which service you need): 999 (source: Bangladesh National Portal, emergency hotline page, bangladesh.gov.bd/pages/static-pages/69a55ba386514399668e4e89, verified 2026-08-31, which lists 999 as the national emergency number for police, fire service and ambulance. Confirmed by US Embassy Dhaka, Emergency Assistance, bd.usembassy.gov/emergency-assistance/ ('Police, fire service and ambulance services will be available from any phone (mobile or fixed line) dialing the number'), and by OSAC (US State Department, Bureau of Diplomatic Security), Bangladesh Country Security Report, osac.gov/Content/Report/249e43e5-d5e6-4506-86bf-1ce7eab76dec, last updated 20 October 2025: 'The emergency line in Bangladesh is 999.') - Fire Service and Civil Defence, direct hotline (999 also reaches the fire service): 102 (source: Bangladesh Police official hotline list, police.gov.bd/en/hot_line_number, verified 2026-08-31 (Fire Service 102), and Bangladesh National Portal emergency hotline page, bangladesh.gov.bd/pages/static-pages/69a55ba386514399668e4e89 (102, Fire Service and Civil Defence). This entry previously read 'Fire, 199'. 199 appears on neither official hotline list and the fire service's own three-digit hotline is 102, so the number was corrected on 2026-08-31.) - Rapid Action Battalion (RAB): +880 2 966 2525 - Square Hospitals Ltd, 24-hour emergency and ambulance (West Panthapath): +880 1713 377775 (source: squarehospital.com official site, emergency and ambulance contact, verified 2026-08-31; facility listed in US Embassy Dhaka, List of Physicians and Hospitals (March 2026)) - Square Hospitals Ltd, overseas caller line: +880 9610 010616 (source: squarehospital.com official site contact details, verified 2026-08-31) - United Hospital Limited (Plot 15, Road 71, Gulshan): +880 2 2226 2466 (source: US Embassy Dhaka, List of Physicians and Hospitals, bd.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/151/2026/04/2026-Mar-List-of-Physicians-and-Hospitals.pdf, verified 2026-08-31) - Evercare Hospital Dhaka (Plot 81, Block E, Bashundhara R/A): +880 2 8431661 (source: US Embassy Dhaka, List of Physicians and Hospitals, bd.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/151/2026/04/2026-Mar-List-of-Physicians-and-Hospitals.pdf, verified 2026-08-31) - Ambulance via the 999 national emergency service (ask for an ambulance, or a cardiac ambulance if a heart attack is suspected; with a vehicle to hand, driving to hospital is often faster): 999 (source: FCDO Bangladesh travel advice, Health section, gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/bangladesh/health, verified 2026-08-31: 'Call 999 and ask for an ambulance', ask for a 'cardiac ambulance' if you suspect a heart attack, and it may be faster to reach the nearest hospital yourself if you have access to a vehicle. Bangladesh has no separate national ambulance short code. A second entry reading 'Ambulance, 199' was removed on 2026-08-31: 199 is absent from the Bangladesh Police hotline list (police.gov.bd/en/hot_line_number) and from the Bangladesh National Portal emergency hotline page (bangladesh.gov.bd/pages/static-pages/69a55ba386514399668e4e89), both of which route ambulances through 999.) - US Embassy Dhaka, American Citizen Services (duty officer after hours): +880 2 5566 2000 (source: bd.usembassy.gov/medical-assistance/, Medical Evacuation Information section, verified 2026-08-31) ## Warnings - Monitor political developments closely. Hartals can be called with little notice and can effectively shut down the city. Have contingency plans for extended restricted movement, including accommodation flexibility. - Since the 2016 Gulshan attack, venues in the expatriate area have enhanced security measures. Apply the same heightened awareness to any restaurant, hotel, or venue frequented by foreign nationals. - Traffic conditions make emergency medical response extremely slow in Dhaka. Identify the nearest international-standard medical facility before you need it, and build that journey time into contingency planning. - Monsoon flooding can close roads and disrupt communications. Check seasonal conditions when planning visits between June and October. 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 licensed under the Private Security Services Act 2006 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](/cities/karachi/) and our [Mumbai city page](/cities/mumbai/). *Source: FCDO Bangladesh travel advisory (April 2026). Holey Artisan Bakery attack documentation, July 2016. OSAC Bangladesh Country Security Report 2025. Private Security Services Act 2006. WHO Bangladesh road safety data.* ## Frequently asked questions ### Is Dhaka safe for business travel after the 2016 attack? Security in Dhaka's Gulshan district has been materially upgraded since the 2016 Holey Artisan Bakery attack: checkpoints, enhanced venue security screening, and increased security force presence are now standard in the expatriate zone. The underlying terrorism threat has not been removed, but the security response environment is substantively different from 2016. Professional security management is appropriate for all corporate visits. ### How do I plan for hartals in Dhaka? Hartals (general strikes) are a recurring feature of Bangladeshi political life and can be called with limited notice, effectively shutting down transport for hours or days. For corporate visitors, the practical response is to monitor the political calendar and local news before and during the visit, maintain accommodation flexibility that avoids committing to travel at times of elevated political tension, and have a security driver who is monitoring conditions in real time. ### How does Dhaka's traffic affect security planning? Dhaka has some of the worst traffic congestion in the world, and this directly affects security. A security driver's primary value in Dhaka is not just protective driving but route knowledge -- understanding which routes are blocked by demonstrations, construction, or flooding -- and advance journey time management. Emergency response times across the city are severely affected by congestion, which means identifying medical facilities and planning for slow evacuation is a standard preparedness step. ### What is the standard security arrangement for corporate visitors to Dhaka? The baseline for most corporate visitors is accommodation in the Gulshan zone, a vetted security driver for all movements including the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport transfer, and a current political brief covering any active or planned hartal activity. For higher-profile principals, executives in politically sensitive sectors, or those on extended assignments, close protection officers alongside the security driver are the appropriate addition. ### What security do NGO and development sector organisations use in Dhaka? Most major international NGOs and development agencies in Dhaka maintain organisation-level security protocols including vetted transport, accommodation requirements, communication trees, and hartal contingency plans. These protocols are generally more mature than corporate travel security for the Bangladesh environment. Individual staff visiting Dhaka should be familiar with their organisation's plan, and supplement with personal security measures -- including a vetted driver for personal movement -- appropriate to their individual profile.