News Desk :
Issuing a level 4 travel advisory for Bangladesh, the US Department of State has warned US nationals against travelling to the South Asian country amid restrictions enforced due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The advisory, under the heading, “Do not travel to Bangladesh due to COVID-19”, says: “Travelers to Bangladesh may experience border closures, airport closures, travel prohibitions, quarantine requirements, stay at home orders, business closures or other emergency conditions within Bangladesh due to Covid-19.”
In the advisory, updated on August 6, the US federal executive department also urged its citizens to remain alert while in Bangladesh owing to crime, terrorism and kidnapping. “Exercise increased caution in Bangladesh due to crime, terrorism and kidnapping.”
The level 4 travel advisory was also issued for other Asian countries such as India, China and Bhutan, while a level 3 advisory was issued for Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Depending on the risk, the State Department issues four levels of travel advisories. According to their website, level 1 is blue (exercise normal precautions), level 2 is yellow (exercise increased caution), level 3 is orange (reconsider travel) and level 4 is red (do not travel).
The advisory issued for Bangladesh notes: “In Bangladesh the crime rate impacting foreigners is generally low. However, 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.
“Terrorism events 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.”
Due to security concerns, US government employees in Bangladesh are subject to movement and travel restrictions, reads the advisory.
“The US government may have limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in Bangladesh due to these travel restrictions, a lack of infrastructure and limited host government emergency response resources,” it warned.
The department urged US citizens to reconsider travelling to southeast Bangladesh, including the Chittagong Hill Tracts, due to crime, terrorism and kidnapping. “Travel is dangerous to the Khagrachari, Rangamati and Bandarban Hill Tracts districts (collectively known as the Chittagong Hill Tracts) due to occasional communal violence and other security risks.”
“Prior approval from the Government of Bangladesh Ministry of Home Affairs Office of Public Safety is required if you plan to travel to these areas,” the statement advised.
With 5,567,765 Covid-19 cases and 173,139 deaths, the US is now the worst-hit country list for coronavirus, according to Worldometer.
The European Union recently agreed on an updated list of countries whose travelers will be welcomed back to the bloc effective from August 8, and the list does not include the US.
Europe continues to bar travelers from the US as the country has been unable to bring the Covid-19 outbreak under control.
Issuing a level 4 travel advisory for Bangladesh, the US Department of State has warned US nationals against travelling to the South Asian country amid restrictions enforced due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The advisory, under the heading, “Do not travel to Bangladesh due to COVID-19”, says: “Travelers to Bangladesh may experience border closures, airport closures, travel prohibitions, quarantine requirements, stay at home orders, business closures or other emergency conditions within Bangladesh due to Covid-19.”
In the advisory, updated on August 6, the US federal executive department also urged its citizens to remain alert while in Bangladesh owing to crime, terrorism and kidnapping. “Exercise increased caution in Bangladesh due to crime, terrorism and kidnapping.”
The level 4 travel advisory was also issued for other Asian countries such as India, China and Bhutan, while a level 3 advisory was issued for Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Depending on the risk, the State Department issues four levels of travel advisories. According to their website, level 1 is blue (exercise normal precautions), level 2 is yellow (exercise increased caution), level 3 is orange (reconsider travel) and level 4 is red (do not travel).
The advisory issued for Bangladesh notes: “In Bangladesh the crime rate impacting foreigners is generally low. However, 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.
“Terrorism events 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.”
Due to security concerns, US government employees in Bangladesh are subject to movement and travel restrictions, reads the advisory.
“The US government may have limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in Bangladesh due to these travel restrictions, a lack of infrastructure and limited host government emergency response resources,” it warned.
The department urged US citizens to reconsider travelling to southeast Bangladesh, including the Chittagong Hill Tracts, due to crime, terrorism and kidnapping. “Travel is dangerous to the Khagrachari, Rangamati and Bandarban Hill Tracts districts (collectively known as the Chittagong Hill Tracts) due to occasional communal violence and other security risks.”
“Prior approval from the Government of Bangladesh Ministry of Home Affairs Office of Public Safety is required if you plan to travel to these areas,” the statement advised.
With 5,567,765 Covid-19 cases and 173,139 deaths, the US is now the worst-hit country list for coronavirus, according to Worldometer.
The European Union recently agreed on an updated list of countries whose travelers will be welcomed back to the bloc effective from August 8, and the list does not include the US.
Europe continues to bar travelers from the US as the country has been unable to bring the Covid-19 outbreak under control.
