The United States embassy in Dhaka issued a security alert on Saturday, advising US citizens to consider returning to the country if they feel unsafe, as Bangladesh has been placed on a Level 4 travel advisory—‘Do Not Travel’.
‘If feeling unsafe, US citizens should consider returning to the United States,’ the security alert stated. The notice was made available also on the embassy’s official website.
The alert mentioned reports of a peaceful ‘sit-in’ planned at Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed Park in the Gulshan 2, neighbourhood of Dhaka, at 3:00pm local time on the same day.
It also warned that calls for protests, demonstrations, marches, and gatherings were ongoing and could materialise quickly.
‘We are also aware of calls for a ‘total non-cooperation’ movement beginning on Sunday. More protests are expected in the coming days,’ the notice added.
Due to the unpredictable nature of the protests and the potential government response, US citizens were advised to remain vigilant, avoid demonstrations, and exercise caution in the vicinity of any large gatherings, it added.
Despite the advisory, the US embassy in Dhaka continues to offer limited, routine consular services.