Travel alert for US citizens

The US State Department has warned its citizens of the risks of travel to Bangladesh and urged caution while travelling before and after parliament election on December 29.
In its travel alert the State Department said the Bangladesh government lifted a State of Emergency on December 17 that had been in place since January 11, 2007. With the December 29 national election approaching, political parties began to organise large gatherings and election rallies throughout the country.
It said large gatherings in Bangladesh, including those organised for campaigning purposes, in the past have erupted in violence. Several newspapers also have reported terrorist threats focused on the elections.
With these developments in mind, the travel alert notice said the US citizens travelling to or already in Bangladesh were advised to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to review their security awareness.
“The security situation in Bangladesh can be fluid, and Americans are urged to check with the US Embassy for the latest information,” the notice said.
It noted that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can quickly and unexpectedly escalate into violence.
“American citizens, therefore, are urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations if possible and to exercise caution within the vicinity of any demonstrations,” the notice said, adding US citizens should monitor media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings at all times.
This travel alert will expire on January 5, 2009.