bdnews24.com :
The travel advisories the Westerns countries issued after the Gulshan attack a year ago, are still in place and hurting Bangladesh badly in the areas of tourism and international businesses.
“Those alerts are hurting us,” said Abdul Matlub Ahmad, the immediate-past past President of Bangladesh’s apex business chamber, FBCCI, toldbdnews24.com on Friday.
“I do not find any reason why are they maintaining the travel alert now. Everything became normal after three months. Even we have seen buyers came to Bangladesh on their own risks,” he said.
Almost all European countries, the US, Japan, and Australia, are maintaining travel alerts in Bangladesh since July 1 Holey Artisan attack that killed 22 people including 17 foreigners including the nationals from Japan, Italy and India. For Matlub, this is now a “political issue”. “Maybe they do not want us to grow…they do not want us to become a middle-income country”. Former ambassador M Humayun Kabir said when anyone sees travel alerts, “it is likely that they travellers stop for a moment and think again”.
Both Matlub and Kabir, however, suggested Bangladesh government should play active roles in reversing the travel advisories. Ambassador Kabir said the travel alert is not a “fact-based” issue. “It was a perception-based warning the countries issue those alerts when they believe there are potential threats of terrorism”.
“We have to work in a way that we can play that role in changing their perceptions,” he said.
For example, he said, the government can present its anti-terrorism activities widely to those countries who are issuing those alerts. “We have to make our actions visible to them. It’s a pro-active engagement so that they can come to an accurate assessment so that their perception on Bangladesh can be modified,” he added. Businessman Matlub Ahmad suggested forming teams for those countries. “One team in one country will work, and those will be headed by our ambassador or high commissioner in that country. And they will work and sit with the home ministry of those countries to help them understand the current situation and make right decision”. He said the government should take measures in a way that those advisories are lifted in the next three months. “We have taken mega projects that involve massive activities. But travel alerts are preventing big companies from coming here,” he said.
The US, UK, and Australia are strictly following the rules that their officials do not bring their minors who go to schools in Dhaka. They are allowing only employed adult family members to remain in or return to Dhaka.
Australia is asking its citizens to reconsider their need to travel Bangladesh. “Think seriously about whether you need to travel here due to the high level of risk. If you do travel, do your research and take a range of extra safety precautions, including having contingency plans. Check that your travel insurer will cover you,” one advisory suggested. The Department of State also warned US citizens of continuing threats from terrorist groups in Bangladesh and to consider the risks of travelling inside the country. The UK government told its citizens that “terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Bangladesh. The threat extends across the country”. “Crowded areas and places where foreign nationals are known to gather may be at higher risk of attack. You should minimise your exposure to these areas, consider your movements carefully and follow any specific advice of the local security authorities.”
Danish Ambassador Mikael Hemniti Winther last month said regarding risk assessment, they “still feel the risk”. “We still have restrictions on our movement”.
State Minster for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam during his Japan visit in the first week of June requested the authorities “to consider withdrawal of travel alert”, saying that the situation in Bangladesh had “improved a lot” since then. Swiss Ambassador Christian Fotsch recently in a conversation told bdnews24.com that Bangladesh is not alone in the world that faces this violent extremism.
Those attacks are “in contrast with Bangladesh’s long tradition of tolerance and secular heritage”.
He said following the attacks, the Bangladesh government stepped up security measures particularly for the protection of foreigners living in the country. “What is also important is to address the cause of the rise of extremism in the country”.
The travel advisories the Westerns countries issued after the Gulshan attack a year ago, are still in place and hurting Bangladesh badly in the areas of tourism and international businesses.
“Those alerts are hurting us,” said Abdul Matlub Ahmad, the immediate-past past President of Bangladesh’s apex business chamber, FBCCI, toldbdnews24.com on Friday.
“I do not find any reason why are they maintaining the travel alert now. Everything became normal after three months. Even we have seen buyers came to Bangladesh on their own risks,” he said.
Almost all European countries, the US, Japan, and Australia, are maintaining travel alerts in Bangladesh since July 1 Holey Artisan attack that killed 22 people including 17 foreigners including the nationals from Japan, Italy and India. For Matlub, this is now a “political issue”. “Maybe they do not want us to grow…they do not want us to become a middle-income country”. Former ambassador M Humayun Kabir said when anyone sees travel alerts, “it is likely that they travellers stop for a moment and think again”.
Both Matlub and Kabir, however, suggested Bangladesh government should play active roles in reversing the travel advisories. Ambassador Kabir said the travel alert is not a “fact-based” issue. “It was a perception-based warning the countries issue those alerts when they believe there are potential threats of terrorism”.
“We have to work in a way that we can play that role in changing their perceptions,” he said.
For example, he said, the government can present its anti-terrorism activities widely to those countries who are issuing those alerts. “We have to make our actions visible to them. It’s a pro-active engagement so that they can come to an accurate assessment so that their perception on Bangladesh can be modified,” he added. Businessman Matlub Ahmad suggested forming teams for those countries. “One team in one country will work, and those will be headed by our ambassador or high commissioner in that country. And they will work and sit with the home ministry of those countries to help them understand the current situation and make right decision”. He said the government should take measures in a way that those advisories are lifted in the next three months. “We have taken mega projects that involve massive activities. But travel alerts are preventing big companies from coming here,” he said.
The US, UK, and Australia are strictly following the rules that their officials do not bring their minors who go to schools in Dhaka. They are allowing only employed adult family members to remain in or return to Dhaka.
Australia is asking its citizens to reconsider their need to travel Bangladesh. “Think seriously about whether you need to travel here due to the high level of risk. If you do travel, do your research and take a range of extra safety precautions, including having contingency plans. Check that your travel insurer will cover you,” one advisory suggested. The Department of State also warned US citizens of continuing threats from terrorist groups in Bangladesh and to consider the risks of travelling inside the country. The UK government told its citizens that “terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Bangladesh. The threat extends across the country”. “Crowded areas and places where foreign nationals are known to gather may be at higher risk of attack. You should minimise your exposure to these areas, consider your movements carefully and follow any specific advice of the local security authorities.”
Danish Ambassador Mikael Hemniti Winther last month said regarding risk assessment, they “still feel the risk”. “We still have restrictions on our movement”.
State Minster for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam during his Japan visit in the first week of June requested the authorities “to consider withdrawal of travel alert”, saying that the situation in Bangladesh had “improved a lot” since then. Swiss Ambassador Christian Fotsch recently in a conversation told bdnews24.com that Bangladesh is not alone in the world that faces this violent extremism.
Those attacks are “in contrast with Bangladesh’s long tradition of tolerance and secular heritage”.
He said following the attacks, the Bangladesh government stepped up security measures particularly for the protection of foreigners living in the country. “What is also important is to address the cause of the rise of extremism in the country”.
