File Photo
Zakir Hossain in Dhaka
The United States has urged its citizens to reconsider travel to Bangladesh, citing rising risks of civil unrest, crime, and terrorism. The State Department issued a Level 3 advisory for the country, and a more severe Level 4 ‘Do Not Travel’ warning for the Chittagong Hill Tracts due to threats of communal violence, terrorism, and kidnapping.
“Reconsider travel to Bangladesh due to civil unrest, crime, and terrorism. Some areas have increased risk,” the advisory states. It warns US nationals to avoid gatherings, even peaceful ones, as they may turn violent without warning. Due to the risks, “US government employees working in Bangladesh are prohibited from non-essential travel within Dhaka outside of the diplomatic enclave,” the statement added. Special authorization is required for travel outside Dhaka, excluding Cox’s Bazar and Sylhet.
The advisory also noted limited US government capacity to assist citizens during emergencies, especially outside Dhaka.
The warning comes amid political instability in Bangladesh following the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5 last year, and the rise of an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. Since then, attacks on Hindu and other minority communities have reportedly surged.
In a recent incident, Hindu community leader Bhabesh Chandra Roy (58) was abducted and beaten to death in Dinajpur. His wife Shantana Roy told the media that four men arrived after confirming his presence by phone and took him to Narabari village, where he was brutally assaulted. Police recovered his body Thursday night. Biral police station OC Abdus Sabur confirmed a case was being prepared and efforts were underway to catch the perpetrators.