Staff Reporter :
The United States has updated its travel advisory for Bangladesh, easing earlier restrictions, while maintaining strong warnings against travel to the hill tracts region.
Following a review by the US State Department, the updated advisory was released on 11th September, reducing the travel alert from Level 4 – “Do Not Travel” – to Level 3, or “Reconsider Travel.”
This update marks a significant change from the previous advisory issued in July, when US citizens were strongly discouraged from travelling to Bangladesh due to safety concerns. The n ew guidelines now permit travel, albeit under certain conditions.
Despite the overall relaxation, the State Department has retained its strict Level 4 warning for the hill districts of Khagrachari, Rangamati, and Bandarban.
These areas are deemed high-risk due to ongoing issues related to communal violence, crime, terrorism, and the risk of kidnapping. The advisory emphasises that kidnappings have occurred in these regions, often linked to domestic or familial disputes or targeting religious minorities.
“Separatist organisations and political violence also pose additional threats to visitors in the region,” the advisory noted, adding that there have been instances of IED explosions and active shootings. It also highlighted that prior approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Office of Public Safety in Bangladesh is mandatory for any travel to these areas.
A social media post on X, dated 4th September, highlighted that Bangladesh remains on the US red list of high-risk countries, which currently includes 21 nations. The Level 4 advisory, which remains in place for the hill tracts region, is the highest level of caution, advising US citizens not to travel to these areas until further notice.
The original Level 4 advisory for Bangladesh was implemented on 6th August, in the aftermath of widespread protests that led to the removal of the Sheikh Hasina government. Civil unrest, crime, and terrorism were cited as key concerns by the US embassy at the time.
This revised advisory coincides with a visit by Donald Lu, the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, who is currently touring India and Bangladesh from 10th to 16th September. During his visit to Bangladesh, Lu and a delegation from the United States will engage in a series of meetings with the interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser.
According to the State Department, Assistant Secretary Lu will lead an interagency delegation that includes representatives from the US Department of the Treasury, USAID, and the Office of the US Trade Representative. Discussions are expected to focus on ways in which the United States can support Bangladesh’s economic growth, financial stability, and development needs.
Though violent clashes have subsided since the civil unrest in July 2024, conditions in the country remain volatile. The State Department continues to caution US citizens to avoid all gatherings, even peaceful ones, as these can quickly escalate into violence with little or no warning.