The US state department has called Dhaka a high-threat location for political violence and crime directed at or affecting Washington’s “official interests.”
The department, which deals with America’s global policies, made the assessment in the 2017 crime and safety report, prepared and released by its Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) on Wednesday.
“The Department of State alerts US citizens to concerns about the ongoing potential for extremist violence in Bangladesh,” said the report referring to the terrorist attacks since 2015 that are “local, regional and international” threats of terrorism.
It asked the US citizens who travel to Bangladesh to exercise appropriate caution and maintain a high level of vigilance in light of recent violent attacks.
The US citizens have also been advised against travelling to three hill districts — Khagrachari, Rangamati, and Bandarban — due to “kidnappings and other security incidents”.
According to the report, financial scams, vehicle thefts, and petty drug crimes comprise the majority of criminal activity in Dhaka and other major cities in the country.
However, it mentioned, there is no indication that foreigners have been or are being targeted because of their nationality.
The OSAC report observed that there is very little enforcement of traffic laws, which leads to daily traffic jams and overall gridlock in urban areas.
“Drivers must be vigilant, aware, and patient. It is not uncommon to see vehicles travelling the wrong way or commuters hanging out of buses,” the report said adding that use of public transportation could also be hazardous. “Safety standards are not well enforced and passengers alone in taxis and rickshaws are often targets of crime.”
The report further said arriving in and departing from the international airport in Dhaka can be chaotic and intimidating for a less-seasoned traveller. “Long lines at immigration and delays in getting luggage are common,” it pointed out.
Source: Prothom Alo
