US, Italy soften security alert

Countries that had issued security alerts for their citizens in Dhaka following the murder of an Italian citizen last week have now started softening their tone of travel advisory.

The United States, which updated its security message for US citizens in Dhaka, has lifted the shelter-in-place order.

"The US Embassy in Dhaka has lifted the shelter-in-place order that was in effect until Tuesday morning [September 29]," according to the Bureau of Diplomatic Security (OSAC) of US Department of State.

The Italian Embassy in Dhaka, which on September 29 issued a notice, written in red fonts, to Italian citizens, yesterday removed it from the embassy website.

The US Embassy in Dhaka, which declared optional leave on September 29-30 for its diplomats and staff members, was open yesterday and provided consular services.

However, the US Bureau of Diplomatic Security instructed the embassy employees to use caution when travelling throughout the city.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) of the UK in its latest travel advice updated yesterday also slightly toned downed its earlier statement.

However, the British government postponed a scheduled visit of a state minister to Bangladesh.

British Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Hugo Swire was scheduled to pay a three-day official visit to Bangladesh from tomorrow.

When asked about the reason behind the postponement, a spokesperson for the British High Commission yesterday told The Daily Star, "Irrespective of the latest travel advice changes, plans were in hand for the visit of a UK government minister later this week. Unfortunately, unforeseen circumstances in London meant that the visit had to be postponed. We hope that the visit will be able to take place soon."

On the other hand, German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Dr Gerd Müller is due to pay a two-day official visit to Bangladesh on October 6-7.

Other embassies and high commissions, which also issued security alerts, are expected to update their advice in a day or two.