Event Alert - U.S. Embassy Dhaka, Bangladesh (January 29, 2024)
Location: Tongi, Gazipur, Dhaka, and surrounding areas
Event: Bishwa Ijtema, the world’s second-largest Muslim gathering, will occur in Bangladesh on February 2-4 and 9-11, on the banks of the Turag River in Tongi. The main gathering point is about three kilometers north of Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. About four million attendees are expected to participate.
This annual event will have a major impact on vehicular and pedestrian traffic patterns throughout Dhaka. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police, in an effort to ease traffic congestion, are expected to limit vehicular access on several of Dhaka’s major thoroughfares.
Actions to Take:
· Review your scheduled travel during this timeframe and consider factoring in additional transit time.
· If planning to fly from Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, keep airline tickets in your possession and be prepared to present them at police checkpoints.
· Monitor local news.
· Always carry your charged mobile phone for emergency communications.
Assistance:
· U.S. Embassy Dhaka, Bangladesh– (88) 02 5566 2000
· DhakaACS@state.gov
· bd.usembassy.gov
· State Department, Consular Affairs – (888) 407-4747 or (202) 501-4444
· Bangladesh Country Information
· Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)to receive security updates
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