People roam on the street after curfew has been proclaimed and army deployment in the country, as violence erupts following anti-quota protests, in Dhaka, on July 20, 2024.
| Photo Credit: REUTERS

The United States has recommended that its citizens not travel to Bangladesh and allowed the voluntary departure of its non-emergency government employees and family members in light of the ongoing civil unrest in the South Asian country.

The development comes just a day after the U.S. issued a new travel advisory for Bangladesh, urging Americans to reconsider travelling to the country.

Authorities in Bangladesh imposed a strict curfew across the country and military personnel patrolled parts of the capital to quell further violence after days of clashes over the allocation of government jobs left more than 40 people dead and hundreds injured.

The US Department of State raised the Travel Advisory Level for Bangladesh to Level 4 — ‘Do Not Travel’.

“Do not travel to Bangladesh due to civil unrest, crime, and terrorism,” the State Department said, adding, “The department allowed for the voluntary departure of non-emergency US government employees and family members.”

“The Government of Bangladesh has declared a curfew throughout Bangladesh, ordering everyone to stay indoors. The Bangladeshi Army has been deployed throughout the country to reinforce the police. Telecommunications have been interrupted in Dhaka and across the country. Due to the security situation, there may be a delay in provision of routine consular services,” the advisory stated.

U.S.’s new advisory

The U.S. State Department said crimes such as muggings, burglaries, assaults, and illegal drug trafficking constitute the majority of criminal activity in Bangladesh’s major cities, but there are no indications foreigners are being targeted because of their nationality. These crimes tend to be situational, based on time and location, it said.

The advisory said 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.

Because of the security concerns, the U.S. Embassy personnel in Bangladesh are subject to some movement and travel restrictions.

The U.S. 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, it said.

The department asked U.S. nationals to take certain precautions, such as avoiding demonstrations and political gatherings, monitoring local media for breaking events and being prepared to adjust plans, in case they decide to travel to Bangladesh.

“Do not physically resist any robbery attempt. Get to a safe area and report any criminal incident to local authorities. Enrol in the Smart Traveller Enrolment Program to receive alerts including updates on consular services so that it is easier to locate you in an emergency,” the other recommendations from the State Department stated.

Anti-quota supporters clash with police and Awami League supporters at the Rampura area in Dhaka, Bangladesh, July 18, 2024.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Indian High Commission in Dhaka issued an urgent advisory for members of the Indian community and students residning in Banlgadesh amid violent protests that have killed seven.

“In view of the ongoing situation in Bangladesh, the Indian community members and the Indian students residing in Bangladesh are advised to avoid travel and minimize their movement outside their living premises,” the Indian High Commission said in an advisory on July 18.

The Commission has also put out 24-Hour Emergency contact numbers in case of any urgency or need for assistance.

Bangladesh students continue protest

Bangladesh students continued their nationwide protest against civil service hiring rules and rebuffed an olive branch from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who vowed for justice for the seven killed in the demonstrations.

Schools and universities were shut in the country on July 17 as the government stepped up efforts to contain the violent rallies with riot police firing tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds.

In televised address to the nation, Ms. Hasina condemned the ‘murder’ of the protesters and vowed that those responsible will be punished regardless of their political affiliation.

But Students Against Discrimination, the main group behind the rallies called Ms. Hasina’s words insincere and called for a nationwide shutdown on July 18.

The call was widely observed in the capital Dhaka, with barely any vehicles seen on the city’s usually traffic-choked roads.

More than 500 others were injured in clashes around the country on July 17, while six people were killed on July 16.

Why are students protesting?

Thousands of Bangladeshi university students threw roadblocks across key highways on July 7, demanding the end of “discriminatory” quotas for coveted government jobs, including reserving posts for children of liberation heroes.

The current system reserves more than half of posts, totalling hundreds of thousands of government jobs.

That includes 30 percent reserved for children of those who fought to win Bangladeshi independence in 1971, 10% for women, and 10% set aside for specific districts.

Students said only those quotas supporting ethnic minorities and disabled people – 6% of jobs – should remain.