Germany advises against travel to Bangladesh

A Bangladeshi soldier stands guard along a street during the anti-quota protests, in Dhaka on July 20, 2024. (Photo by Munir UZ ZAMAN / AFP)

Berlin: The German Foreign Ministry on Sunday urged citizens not to travel to Bangladesh due to the country’s deadly civil war.

“Travel to Bangladesh is currently discouraged,” the ministry said on its website, warning of a curfew and restrictions on internet and mobile data.

“Further restrictions and a deterioration of the situation are expected,” the ministry said.

Student protests over civil service hiring rules in Bangladesh have become the worst unrest in years in the country, with 155 people dead and widespread destruction in the capital Dhaka.

The country’s Supreme Court on Sunday scaled back controversial hiring quotas, but failed to appease the university’s student leaders.

Soldiers have been patrolling cities in Bangladesh after riot police failed to restore order, while a nationwide internet blackout since Thursday has severely limited the flow of information to the outside world.

The US State Department also warned Americans on Saturday against traveling to Bangladesh and said it would expel some diplomats and their families from the country.