The United States has advised its citizens to stay alert in Bangladesh due to a recent rise in political protests. The US Embassy in Dhaka issued a warning that demonstrations are becoming more frequent in Dhaka and other cities across the country. While most of these protests are meant to be peaceful, the embassy says they can turn violent without much warning.
In a message shared today, the embassy said, “Due to the recent increase in the frequency of protests across Bangladesh, U.S. citizens should practice vigilance and remember that demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence, and can occur with little notice.”
The advisory stressed that large gatherings can become dangerous without warning. US citizens have been told to stay away from such crowds and to exercise extra caution while moving around public places. The embassy added that it is crucial to stay informed about local events and news during this period.
The US Embassy advised US citizens residing in Bangladesh to make and review their safety plans.
American travellers are requested to enrol in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which sends safety updates directly to registered citizens, the advisory stated.
PROTESTS GRIPS YUNUS GOVERNMENT
The Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, which is under mounting pressure from the army and political parties, now faces protests across Bangladesh. It has already been besieged by protesting civil servants since Saturday. Thousands of primary school teachers, also under the banner of the Primary Assistant Teachers’ Unity Council, have started an indefinite strike across Bangladesh.
This comes at a time when Yunus’ fragile regime is facing protests from all sides, just days after he reportedly hinted at resigning, following pushback from Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman on several fronts, including the warning about early elections and the Rakhine Corridor.
The Yunus administration has been dealing with political unrest and large-scale demonstrations, including those by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), for the past few weeks.
The interim government’s head, Yunus, threatened to resign on May 23, citing a lack of support from political parties for crucial reforms.
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