Federal government warns against travels to Bangladesh after deadly unrest
The German government warns against travel to Bangladesh due to violent clashes in relation to student protests in the South Asian country. It must be calculated that the situation may further deteriorate, the Foreign Office announced on Sunday. Those staying in Bangladesh should therefore "absolutely adhere to the curfew" and stay at a safe place. Demonstrations and larger crowds should be avoided.
According to an AFP count, at least 151 people have been killed in the student protests in Bangladesh, which have been going on for weeks. The government imposed a curfew due to the unrest, which many protesters did not obey. In the capital Dhaka, the police shot at demonstrators on Saturday, as an AFP reporter reported. The government had already imposed an internet ban on Thursday, which complicates communication in the country.
Students in Bangladesh have been protesting for weeks almost daily against the government's quota system, which reserves more than half of the well-paid public sector jobs for certain population groups. In the cities, soldiers have been patrolling lately to nip the unrest in the bud.
The students are demanding a complete abolition of the controversial quota system. The Supreme Court of the country changed the selection criteria and significantly reduced the quotas for certain population groups on Sunday. However, a representative of the students declared that the protests would continue regardless.
With the travel advisory issued by the Federal government, many individuals might reconsider their plans to visit Bangladesh due to the ongoing disturbances. The location of these student protests in Bangladesh has led to clashes between protesters and authorities, as seen in the capital Dhaka. The Specification of safe locations and adherence to curfews are crucial pieces of advice provided by the German Foreign Office for those still in Bangladesh.
