U.S. Raises Bangladesh Travel Advisory Amid Ongoing Civil Unrest

The U.S. State Department has elevated Bangladesh's travel advisory to level three due to ongoing civil unrest. Massive protests have erupted regarding government job quotas, leading to clashes and a curfew. The U.S. urges travelers to reconsider trips while security measures have restricted U.S. Embassy personnel.

The U.S. State Department announced on Saturday that it has raised its travel advisory for Bangladesh to level three, urging individuals to reconsider travel to the Asian country due to 'civil unrest' amid ongoing protests.

Massive protests have erupted in Bangladesh driven by student anger against government job quotas, which allocate 30% of positions to families of those who fought for independence from Pakistan. In response, police have used tear gas, the government has banned public gatherings, imposed communication restrictions, deployed the army in some areas, and set a curfew. Dozens have been killed in the past week.

The U.S. State Department stated, 'Travelers should reconsider travel due to civil unrest in Dhaka. Ongoing demonstrations and violent clashes have been reported throughout the city of Dhaka, its neighboring areas, and throughout Bangladesh.' It added, 'Due to the security situation, there may be a delay in provision of routine consular services.'

The State Department also noted that U.S. Embassy personnel in Bangladesh face movement and travel restrictions due to security concerns, potentially limiting their ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Bangladesh.

The United States and Canada have urged Bangladesh to uphold the right to peaceful protest and expressed concern over the recent violence. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced plans to form a judicial committee to investigate the killings, which have heightened student anger amid high youth unemployment rates. Nearly 32 million young Bangladeshis are not in work or education out of a total population of 170 million.