Warden Message: Bangladesh Protests December 29

Consular Affairs Bulletins

South / Central Asia - Bangladesh
29 Dec 2005

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U.S. Embassy Dhaka released the following Warden Message on December 29, 2005:

Police sources have confirmed the following public demonstrations that are planned for today: 

A tense situation is prevailing in the Mirpur area following the Sunday night murder of a business man, Aftabuddin Hossain. Heavy contingents of police have been deployed in the Mirpur area to prevent the situation from escalating into violence. 

Police have advised that the Mirpur area will be very dangerous during these demonstrations. 

Left Democratic Front (LDF) will hold a rally at 4pm at Muktangan (near Bangladesh Secretariat) for the government's decision on Fertilizer purchase.
Police have advised to avoid the following downtown areas during these rallies: Muktangan, Purana Paltan, Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, Press Club. 

There will be a protest procession of Ganamukti O Jatiya Sampad Rakkha Sammilita Andolon at 1200 hours today from Mutangan (near the Bangladesh Secretariat) to BCIC Bhaban at Motijheel for the Government's decision on fertilizer purchase. 

Police have advised to avoid the following downtown areas during the rally: Muktangan, Purana Paltan, Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, Press Club. Islami Shashon Tontro Andolon will hold a demonstration at Muktangan for the recent Bomb attacks in the country at 11 am today. 

Police have advised to avoid the following downtown areas during the rally: Muktangan, Purana Paltan, Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, Press Club. There will be a Dawn to Dusk Hartal in Gazipur today. (Gazipur is a separate district which is located on the North side of Dhaka City, 42 kilometers from Dhaka) 

Police have advised to avoid the following areas during the hartal: Tongi Bridge to Gazipur Chourastha & Dhaka Mymensingh Highway. 

We wish to remind American Citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn violent. American Citizens are urged to avoid these areas if possible, and to exercise caution whenever they are in the vicinity of demonstrations. We advise all Americans to avoid large public gatherings, especially if an incident has just occurred. 

The U.S. Embassy in Dhaka can be reached at (880-2) 885-5500 during regular hours and for after-hours emergencies. Our website address is http://www.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 http://travel.state.gov/, where the current Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, Bangladesh Consular Information Sheet and other Public Announcements and Travel Warnings can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S.; or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line 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)