TRAVEL ALERT - BANGLADESH

UNCLAS STATE 019253 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CASC PTER ASEC BG SUBJECT: TRAVEL ALERT - BANGLADESH ¶1. THIS TRAVEL ALERT IS BEING ISSUED TO ALERT U.S. CITIZENS OF SAFETY CONCERNS IN BANGLADESH IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE RECENT ATTEMPTED MUTINY BY SOME MEMBERS OF THE BANGLADESH RIFLES (BDR),A PARAMILITARY ORGANIZATION RESPONSIBLE FOR BORDER SECURITY. THIS TRAVEL ALERT URGES AMERICAN CITIZENS TO CONSIDER CAREFULLY THE RISKS OF TRAVEL TO BANGLADESH AT THIS TIME, AND EXPIRES ON APRIL 1, ¶2009. ¶2. ON FEBRUARY 25-26, MUTINEERS SEIZED CONTROL OF BDR HEADQUARTERS IN DHAKA AND KILLED DOZENS OF SENIOR ARMY PAGE 03 RUCOWCA5574 UNCLAS STATE 019253 OFFICERS AS WELL AS FAMILY MEMBERS AND OTHERS. THE SECURITY SITUATION REMAINS UNSETTLED AS NEW INFORMATION SURFACES REGARDING THE ATROCITIES COMMITTED BY MUTINEERS. THE ARMY, IN COOPERATION WITH POLICE, ALSO HAS LAUNCHED A NATIONWIDE OPERATION TO SEARCH FOR ESCAPED MUTINEERS. THIS SEARCH MAY DISRUPT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND INCONVENIENCE THE TRAVELING PUBLIC UNTIL MUTINEERS HAVE BEEN APPREHENDED. ¶3. THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE ADVISES ALL U.S. CITIZENS TO EXERCISE CAUTION AND AVOID UNNECESSARY TRAVEL IN AND AROUND BANGLADESH. U.S. CITIZENS ARE REMINDED THAT EVEN GATHERINGS INTENDED TO BE PEACEFUL CAN TURN CONFRONTATIONAL AND ESCALATE INTO VIOLENCE QUICKLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. THE U.S. EMBASSY CONTINUES TO MONITOR THE SITUATION. ¶4. U.S. CITIZENS ARE URGED TO MONITOR THE LOCAL MEDIA FOR UPDATES AND CONTACT THE U.S. EMBASSY IF THEY HAVE ANY SECURITY-RELATED QUESTIONS. ENGLISH LANGUAGE LOCAL NEWS IS AVAILABLE ON THE FOLLOWING CHANNELS AT THE FOLLOWING TIMES: PAGE 04 RUCOWCA5574 UNCLAS STATE 019253 ATN - 1800 BANGLA VISION - 2105 BTV - 2200 BTV - 2330 (ALSO BROADCASTS BY ALL LOCAL SATELLITE STATIONS: ATN, CHANNEL I, NTV, RTV, BANGLA VISION, AND BOISHAKI) ¶5. THE U.S. EMBASSY IN DHAKA CAN BE REACHED AT (880-2) 885-5500 DURING REGULAR HOURS AND FOR AFTER-HOURS EMERGENCIES. THE WEBSITE ADDRESS IS DHAKA.USEMBASSY.GOV. FOR THE LATEST SECURITY INFORMATION, AMERICANS LIVING AND TRAVELING ABROAD SHOULD REGULARLY MONITOR THE DEPARTMENT'S BUREAU OF CONSULAR AFFAIRS INTERNET WEB SITE AT TRAVEL.STATE.GOV, WHERE THE CURRENT COUNTRY SPECIFIC INFORMATION, CURRENT TRAVEL WARNING, CURRENT TRAVEL ALERTS, WORLDWIDE CAUTION, AND OTHER TRAVEL ALERTS AND TRAVEL WARNINGS CAN BE FOUND. ¶6. UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON SECURITY CAN ALSO BE OBTAINED BY CALLING 1-888-407-4747 TOLL FREE IN THE U.S. AND CANADA; OR, FOR CALLERS OUTSIDE THE U.S. AND CANADA, A REGULAR TOLL LINE PAGE 05 RUCOWCA5574 UNCLAS STATE 019253 AT 1-202-501-4444. THESE NUMBERS ARE AVAILABLE FROM 8:00 AM TO 8:00 P.M., EASTERN TIME, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY (EXCEPT U.S. FEDERAL HOLIDAYS). ¶7. MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. CLINTON