Travel Information

Warden Message, February 3, 2006

According to police sources on 02/05/2006, The 14-Party Alliance led by Awami League (AL) will stage a "Long March" demonstration possibly culminating in downtown Dhaka.

So far, the AL has dispatched supporters towards Dhaka from six different parts of Bangladesh with plans to arrive in downtown Dhaka and stage a demonstration against the government.  The planned "Long March" will commence from the districts listed below beginning on 02/02/2006 in order to move masses of opposition alliances towards Dhaka. 

The "Long March" supporters plan to travel into Dhaka on 02/05/2006 and are forecasted to enter downtown Dhaka via different points which may paralyze traffic routes.  The list of prospective travel routes from various parts of Bangladesh to Dhaka are listed below:

*        Cox's Bazar - Chittagong - Dhaka

*        Ponchagor - Sonamasjid - Sirajganj - Gazipur - Tongi - Dhaka

*        Sunamgonj - Sylhet - Moulvibazar - Habijang - Brahman Baria - Dhaka

*        Mongla - Khulna - Jessore - Aricha - Nagarbari - Dhaka

*        Halughat - Kishoreganj - Mymensing - Gazipur - Tongi - Dhaka

*        Barguna - Potukhali - Barishal - Faridpur - Gopalgonj - Shariatpur  - Maua - Dhaka

Police are expecting large public gatherings, traffic congestion, and violence at the access points and possibly at the downtown area of Dhaka. The main city roads may also be impassable and these areas could be prone to civil unrest during the planned "Long
March."

Law enforcement authorities have been instructed not to allow the "Long March" supporters to enter Dhaka.  However, the police feel that many supporters will pass through various checkpoints.  As a result, law enforcement authorities are expecting clashes between the "Long March" supporters and the police in different parts of Dhaka. 

Specifically the police are expecting civil unrest at the entry points of Dhaka such as Tongi, Mirpur, Saidabad, Kanchpur, Demra, Buriganga Bridge 1 & 2, Gabtali points.  If the supporters manage to cross police barricades at the above mentioned points and are able to reach the downtown areas, there is likely to be civil unrest.

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 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)


U.S. Embassy
Dhaka, Bangladesh.