FBOs at Cox’S Bazar Airport VGCB CXB

Airport security

VGHS maintains an ASTORISK threat rating of MODERATE (2) consistent with the US State Department's Level 3 advisory due to kidnapping, unrest, crime, and terrorism.

The advisory cites continued risks of terrorism and civil unrest, though acknowledging decreased street violence since the interim government took power in 2024. Recent intelligence alerts have prompted heightened security measures at all Bangladeshi airports, including VGHS.

Airport security has been significantly enhanced following threat warnings, with additional uniformed and plainclothes personnel deployed while security screening was intensified at both arrival and departure areas.

Additional security personnel were deployed at key entry points, terminal areas and sensitive installations, while additional uniformed and plainclothes members were deployed with intensified security screening.

The third terminal remains unopened pending completion of operational procedures including training of approximately 4,000 security staff among the 6,000 total personnel required for operation.

Customs, immigration and regulatory

Hours: H24 (four-shift 24/7 operation confirmed on official HSIA website) Customs operated by Commissioner of Custom House, Dhaka on a continuous four-shift basis; standard declaration requirements apply on arrival and departure

Ground corridor

• Dhaka presents an ELEVATED ground transport risk environment driven by opportunistic crime (muggings, petty theft, and scams targeting arriving passengers), severely degraded road safety, and a periodic civil unrest threat that can extend to the main airport road itself
• the Uttara and Banani corridors on the route between VGHS and the city centre are the highest-congestion and highest-exposure segments, with journey times ranging from 45 minutes to over two hours during peak periods (0800–1000 and 1700–2100 LT) and the airport forecourt is an active area for unsolicited transport approaches and overcharging
• independent or unvetted transport from the kerbside is strongly discouraged — pre-arranged vehicles with professional drivers confirmed before arrival are the strongly advised standard, with a ground support team contact on the ground to manage meet-and-assist and vehicle coordination from the arrivals hall
• no armed-conflict zone designation or OFAC sanctions apply to Bangladesh.

City threat summary

VGHS maintains an ASTORISK threat rating of MODERATE (2) consistent with the US State Department's Level 3 advisory due to kidnapping, unrest, crime, and terrorism.

The advisory cites continued risks of terrorism and civil unrest, though acknowledging decreased street violence since the interim government took power in 2024. Recent intelligence alerts have prompted heightened security measures at all Bangladeshi airports, including VGHS.

Country overview

Bangladesh remains under a U.S. State Department Level 2 advisory (Exercise Increased Caution) following a downgrade from Level 3, while the UK FCDO continues to advise against all but essential travel to the Chittagong Hill Tracts districts of Rangamati, Khagrachari, and Bandarban.

The security environment has stabilized somewhat since the formation of the Interim Government in mid-2024 and the subsequent BNP electoral victory in February 2026, but credible terrorist threats, periodic civil unrest, and elevated crime persist across the country.

Sub-regions including the Chittagong Hill Tracts and areas near the Myanmar border and Cox's Bazar refugee camps carry substantially elevated risk profiles relative to the national baseline.

Higher-risk locations nearby

• Dhaka VGHS HIGH