Newsman: Bangladesh is on the travel red list under the United States travel policy updated on Wednesday. This updated travel alert for its citizens was issued further following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5. There are 21 countries on this list including Bangladesh.
The US Department of State issued statement was a posted on its verified Twitter page on Wednesday.
“We issue Travel Advisories with Levels 1 – 4. Level 4 means do not travel. This is the highest advisory level due to greater likelihood of life-threatening risks. Before making travel plans, look up the Travel Advisory for your intended destination(s),” the statement said.
The Level 4 – ‘Do Not Travel’ countries are Afghanistan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Myanmar (Burma), Central African Republic, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Yemen.
The US Department of State also had issued the travel Advisories in July at Level 4 travel warning for Bangladesh prior to the August 5th regime change.
“Travelers should not travel to Bangladesh due to ongoing civil unrest in Dhaka. Violent clashes have occurred in the city of Dhaka, its neighboring areas, and throughout Bangladesh, and the Bangladeshi Army is deployed nationwide,” the US Department of State said in a statement.
The US Department of State on its website stated the Bangladesh’s Country Summary s following:
“On August 5, 2024, the Department ordered the departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and family members. Travelers should not travel to Bangladesh due to ongoing civil unrest in Dhaka. Violent clashes have occurred in the city of Dhaka, its neighboring areas, and throughout Bangladesh, and the Bangladeshi Army is deployed nationwide. Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport temporarily paused operations on August 5. Travelers should check with their airlines to confirm status for future flights.
Travelers should be aware of petty crimes such as pickpocketing in crowded areas. Crimes such as muggings, burglaries, assaults, and illegal drug trafficking constitute the majority of criminal activity in Bangladesh’s major cities, but there are no indications foreigners are being targeted because of their nationality. These crimes tend to be situational, based on time and location.”
Terrorist attacks can happen with little or no warning, with terrorists targeting public areas such as tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, restaurants, places of worship, school campuses, and government facilities.
Because of security concerns U.S. Embassy personnel in Bangladesh are subject to some movement and travel restrictions. The U.S. government may have limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Bangladesh due to these travel restrictions, a lack of infrastructure, and limited host government emergency response resources.
