The United States embassy in Dhaka has warned against possibility of ‘terrorist attacks’ on government facilities, places of worship, school campuses and markets in Bangladesh.
‘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,’ said a US embassy security alert updated on Tuesday, a day after prime minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India amid mass uprising led by student protesters.
Earlier on Saturday, the US embassy issued a security alert, advising US citizens to consider returning to the country if they felt unsafe, as Bangladesh was placed on a Level 4 travel advisory—‘Do Not Travel’.
The Department of State ordered the departure of non-emergency US government employees and family members.
Travelers should not travel to Bangladesh due to ongoing civil unrest in Dhaka, Tuesday’s notice mentioned, adding that violent clashes had occurred in the city of Dhaka, its neighbouring areas, and throughout Bangladesh.
Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport temporarily paused operations on August 5, it said and asked travelers to check with their airlines to confirm status for future flights.
‘Because of security concerns US Embassy personnel in Bangladesh are subject to some movement and travel restrictions,’ the notice said.
The embassy said that the US government may have limited ability to provide emergency services to its citizens in Bangladesh due to these travel restrictions, a lack of infrastructure, and limited host government emergency response resources.
