US elevates Bangladesh travel outlook

The United States on Thursday updated its travel advisory for Bangladesh, downgrading the potential risks for American travellers from level 3 to level 2.

The Overall Travel Advisory has been changed from Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) to Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution), the US said, denoting that Bangladesh is now safer for travel, compared with previous times.

This positive development follows the productive bilateral meeting held in Dhaka earlier in the day, between Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, and Sergio Gor, special envoy to the US president. Immediately after the meeting, Sergio Gor conveyed the downgrade in travel warnings to the Foreign Minister through a text message.

Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister, Humaiun Kobir, was present during the discussions.

The improvement in the Travel Advisory reflects growing US confidence in Bangladesh's overall security environment and stability.  Over the past six months, under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the present government has achieved visible progress in strengthening law and order across the country. The decision also underscores the positive trajectory of the longstanding partnership between Bangladesh and the United States.

The Government of Bangladesh views this improvement as a recognition of its sustained efforts to ensure security, stability, and an enabling environment for international travel, trade, investment, and people-to-people connectivity.