Health/Travel Alert – U.S. Embassy Dhaka, Bangladesh

Location:  Dhaka, Bangladesh

 

Event: Countrywide Lockdown Continues with Flight Limitations and Enhanced Quarantine Requirements

 

The Government of Bangladesh announced a continuation of the countrywide lockdown from April 28 to May 5 to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus.  The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) also announced a resumption of limited international and domestic passenger flights, subject to a number of restrictions.  

 

The Embassy is aware of the travel difficulties experienced by many of our citizens and is closely monitoring the situation.  International and domestic flight information continues to change; some flights under specific circumstances may be available.  For additional details on flights, please consult the CAAB website at http://caab.portal.gov.bd/, which also contains the latest circulars.  Please contact individual airlines to reschedule flights and for current information.  For additional lockdown information please read the full Government of Bangladesh (GoB) circular at https://cabinet.gov.bd/.  The circular is available under the “Notice Board.”   

 

1.   All government, semi-government, and non-government offices will be closed. 

2.   Most modes of transport (road, sea, rail, domestic and international flights) will be closed or limited.  This order is not applicable in case of transportation of commodities, production, and emergency.

3.   Residents should remain in their homes except for emergencies or for essential needs, such as shopping for food and medicine.

4.   Factories and emergency service providers will remain operational. 

5.   Restaurants (including hotel restaurants) and food shops will be open for takeaway/delivery for limited times.

6.   The Dhaka Metropolitan Police are enforcing the lockdown through increased patrolling, establishing random checkpoints around the city, and implementing mobile magistrate courts.

The CAAB extended enhanced quarantine requirements for entry into Bangladesh until May 5 at 11:59 p.m. BST.  The following guidelines apply to passengers traveling on special flights, which the GoB designated as flying to/from Bahrain, China, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the U.A.E.  Please note that the U.S. Embassy is currently not arranging any special flights.

1.   All departing and arriving passengers require a negative COVID-19 PCR test result within 72 hours of flight departure time. 

2.   Fully vaccinated arriving passengers with vaccine documentation require a 14-day home quarantine.

3.   Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated arriving passengers require a three-day institutional quarantine at a government-designated facility or hotel at the passengers’ own expense followed by a mandatory 11-day home quarantine, for a total of 14 days.

The U.S. Embassy reminds all U.S. citizens to practice sound personal security measures which include following GoB laws and local government ordinances and to always carry a fully charged work or personal cell phone.   

 

The U.S. Embassy will remain closed for routine U.S. citizen services and for all visa services for the duration of the lockdown.  All U.S. citizen services appointments already scheduled for the week will be rescheduled.  In the event of an immediate need for service or an emergency, please email DhakaACS@state.gov to request an emergency appointment.  The Embassy will reopen U.S. citizen services appointments after the lockdown is lifted.  

 

To receive U.S. Embassy Bangladesh updates, please enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP):  https://step.state.gov/.

 

Please consult the U.S. Embassy’s website (https://bd.usembassy.gov/) for additional information on the situation in Bangladesh and the Department of State’s COVID-19 page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.

 

You can contact the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh, located at Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka Bangladesh 1212, at (88) (02) 5566-2000, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday except for holidays.  On holidays or weekends the after-hours emergency number for U.S. citizens is (88) (02) 5566-2000; after dialing press “0” and ask for the duty officer.

 

Further Actions to Take:

Assistance: