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Sweden warns against non-essential travel to Bangladesh

Emma Löfgren
Emma Löfgren - emma.lofgren@thelocal.com
Sweden warns against non-essential travel to Bangladesh
People walk past a vandalised car in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Photo: AP Photo/Rajib Dhar

The Swedish foreign ministry is advising against non-essential travel to Bangladesh, following violent unrest in the country.

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"Non-essential travel" refers to tourist or leisure visits, but not, for example, business travel.

While it does not advise against all travel and is not a legally binding ban, it has other implications that residents in Sweden may want to take into account before deciding to travel, for example that your Swedish travel insurance may not be valid if you disregard the advice.

If you're in Bangladesh, you could sign up to the foreign ministry's so-called "Swedish list" – a list of Swedish residents currently abroad. It's not compulsory, but it means the ministry is aware that you're there and can contact you in the event of a crisis or emergency.

Anyone with a personal number in Sweden can sign up, even if you're not a Swedish citizen.

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The protests in Bangladesh began peacefully as university students demanded an overhaul of the country's quota system for civil service jobs. The movement then expanded to broader anti-government campaigns and violent clashes followed, with more than 300 people killed.

On Monday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country.

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