U.S. Raises Travel Advisory for Bangladesh to Level Four, Citing UnrestU.S. Raises Travel Advisory for Bangladesh to Level Four, Citing Unrest The U.S. State Department has issued a Level 4 travel advisory for Bangladesh, urging Americans not to travel to the country due to ongoing civil unrest. Reason for Advisory The State Department cited “civil unrest” as the reason for the elevated travel advisory. Mass protests have erupted in Bangladesh over government quotas that reserve 30% of public sector jobs for families of those who fought for Pakistan’s independence in 1971. Government Response The government has responded to the protests with force, deploying police and the military to disperse demonstrators. Tear gas has been used, public gatherings have been banned, and a curfew has been imposed. Dozens have been killed in recent days. State Department Actions In addition to the travel advisory, the State Department has authorized the voluntary departure of non-essential U.S. government employees and their family members from Bangladesh. The department had previously urged Americans to reconsider travel to the country. Impact on U.S. Citizens The State Department warned that U.S. Embassy staff in Bangladesh face restrictions on movement and travel due to security concerns. This could impact the ability of the embassy to provide emergency services to American citizens in the country. International Response The United States and Canada have expressed concern over the violence in Bangladesh and have called for the government to respect the right to peaceful protest. Background The protests stem from anger over quotas that limit opportunities for young Bengalis, particularly in the face of high youth unemployment. The government has formed a judicial committee to investigate the killings.
Washington: The US State Department said on Saturday it has raised its travel advisory for Bangladesh to level four, advising people not to travel to the Asian country due to what Washington described as “civil unrest” amid ongoing protests.
The State Department also said it had authorized the voluntary departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and family members in Bangladesh. A day earlier, the department had urged people to reconsider traveling to the country.
Why it’s important
Mass protests have broken out in Bangladesh amid student anger over quotas that reserve 30 percent of government jobs for the families of those who fought for Pakistan’s independence.
Police have fired tear gas to disperse protesters in some areas, while the government has banned public gatherings, imposed communications restrictions, deployed the military in some areas and imposed a curfew. Dozens have been killed in the past week.
Key Quotes
“Travellers should not travel to Bangladesh due to the ongoing civil unrest in Dhaka. Demonstrations and violent clashes have been reported in Dhaka city, neighbouring areas and across Bangladesh,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“Due to the security situation, there may be delays in the provision of routine consular services,” the report said.
The State Department also reported that U.S. Embassy staff in Bangladesh face certain restrictions on movement and travel due to security concerns, which could limit their ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Bangladesh.
Response
The United States and Canada have called on Bangladesh to respect the right to peaceful protest and expressed concern over the violence that has taken place in the country in recent days.
Context
Students protested against quotas for public sector jobs, including a 30 percent reservation for relatives of fighters from Pakistan’s 1971 war of independence. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the government would form a judicial committee to investigate the killings.
The quotas have angered students, who are struggling with high youth unemployment, with nearly 32 million young Bengalis out of work and education, out of a total population of 170 million.
Published July 21, 2024, 02:28 IST
