The United States Department of State issued an update this week to its “reconsider travel” advisory for a major South Asian nation.
The State Department keeps a library of travel advisories, meant to provide guidance on the “risks and recommended precautions” for U.S. citizens overseas. The advisories are categorized into four different levels, based on risk.
This week, the department made some changes to its Level 3 warning for Bangladesh.
What are the four U.S. travel warning levels?
Travel advisories range from Level 1 –“Exercise normal precautions”–to Level 4–“Do Not Travel.”
Here’s a look at what each level means:
- Level 1: “Exercise normal precautions” – The lowest risk level, reserved for countries that are generally safe. Countries in this group include as Australia, Canada, Greece, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea.
- Level 2: “Exercise increased caution” – Certain parts of the country may carry increased risks such as theft, crime or terrorism. Besides Grenada, countries currently under Level 2 advisory include Brazil, China, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates.
- Level 3: “Reconsider travel” – Citizens are urged to reconsider travel plans, due to “serious risks and security.” This advisory level includes Colombia, Guatemala, Israel and the West Bank, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Uganda.
- Level 4: “Do not travel” – The most severe advisory level, due to possible “life-threatening risks.” The United States may not be able to help guests in case of an emergency, and asks citizens not to visit or leave as soon as possible. Countries in this category include Afghanistan, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Russia, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine and Yemen.
Level 1 and 2 advisories are reviewed by the State Department every 12 months, while Level 3 and 4 warnings are checked over ever six months.
What did the State Department change regarding its Bangladesh advisory?
The overall level of the advisory remains unaltered. Overall, Banglagesh is still at a Level 3 –“reconsider travel”–due to “kidnapping, unrest, crime, and terrorism.”
Additionally, the Chittagong Hill Tracts Region of Bangladesh is under a Level 4 advisory, with Americans urged not to travel there due to kidnapping risk. This area included the Khagrachari, Rangamati, and Bandarban Hill Tracts districts.
“Kidnappings have happened in the region. Some are due to family disputes, while others target religious minorities,” the advisory says. “Separatist groups and political violence create more risks for visitors. There have been cases of IED explosions and active shootings.
“You must get prior approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs Office of Public Safety in Bangladesh if you want to travel to these areas. Due to the risks, U.S. government employees in Bangladesh cannot travel to the region. The Government of Bangladesh has imposed these restrictions.”
If you want to read the full U.S. Department of State travel advisory for Bangladesh, click here.
