As the country is set to see another spell of countrywide shutdowns, foreign countries including the USA and UK have asked their citizens here to follow developments in the news media and to exercise caution avoiding unnecessary travel throughout the country.
“We advise all US citizens to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary travel throughout the country,” the US Embassy in Dhaka said in a web message describing hartal as a mass protest and mentioned hartals can turn violent.
It also said even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence.
The message said the US Embassy is taking a prudent approach to ensure safety of all employees and the travel of US Embassy employees and their family members is restricted to the Diplomatic Enclave from 6 pm Sunday, November 3, until 6 pm Wednesday, November 6.
“You should avoid areas of demonstrations, and exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large gatherings, protests, or demonstrations,” it said.
A foreign travel advisory of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the UK, said: “If you’re intending to travel to Bangladesh, even if you’re a regular visitor with family or business links, you should follow developments in the news media, and consult this travel advice regularly.”
There are regular enforced strikes, known locally as hartals and these can quickly turn violent and may include burning buses, attacks on property, road blocks and confrontation with the police, it said. “At least 20 lives are reported to have been lost in politically-related disorder since Friday 25 October.”
It also mentioned that Bangladesh has a long history of political violence and advised the British citizens to monitor the local media to keep themselves informed of developments.
Earlier, Canadian High Commission in Dhaka in an advisory said: “There is no nationwide advisory in effect for Bangladesh. However, you should exercise a high degree of caution due to the fragile political situation.”
It said political demonstrations, nationwide hartals (enforced strikes) and violent clashes are occurring frequently and are expected to continue. “The security situation could deteriorate quickly.”
The BNP-led 18-party opposition alliance has called a 60-hour countrywide hartal (shutdown) from Monday morning demanding a non-party polls-time government for overseeing the next parliamentary elections.
Source: UNBConnect
