This year (2013) Bishwa Ijtema Bangladesh will take place January 11-13 (Fri-Sun) and January 18-20 (Fri-Sun), 2013 on the banks of the Turag River in Tongi. The main gathering point is about 3 km north of the Hazrat Shah Jalal International Airport. The government expects between three and four million visitors from around the world to attend the Ijtema this year.
The Ijtema leads to major traffic disruptions in Dhaka every year. We expect disruptions at Mohakhali, Kakoli, Nikunja, Natun Bazar (the highway in front of the U.S. Embassy), Khilkhet, Uttara and Tongi. The following roads are expected to be closed to ease traffic congestion from 1800 hrs on January 12 until 1800 hrs on January 13, 2012, as well as 1800 hrs on January 19 until 1800 hrs on January 20, 2013:
- Tongi
- Abdullahpur
- Gazipur Chourastha
- Ashulia-Bypall Crossing
- Progoti Sharani Crossing
- from Mirpur Zoo to Beribadh Road
- from Mirpur Mazar Road to Beribadh Road
- from Pallobi Eastern Housing Area to Beribadh Road
The police advise avoiding Airport Road and all roads from Gazipur Chourasta to Kuril on the above-mentioned dates, and remaining alert while traveling in proximity to those areas. Travelers going to and from the airport will be allowed to use Airport Road upon showing their airline tickets to traffic police. If you are planning to travel over these weekends, please bear in mind that this event will result in increased air travel into and out of Bangladesh.
We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Bangladesh enroll in the Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at https://step.state.gov/step. STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the U.S. embassy or nearest U.S. consulate to contact you in an emergency. If you don't have Internet access, enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
Regularly monitor the State Department's website at http://travel.state.gov/, where you can find current Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and the Worldwide Caution. Read the Country Specific Information for Bangladesh at
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_4965.html. For additional information, refer to "A Safe Trip Abroad" on the State Department's website.
Contact the U.S. Embassy, Dhaka for up-to-date information on travel restrictions. You can also call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free from within the United States and Canada, or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Follow us on Twitter at https://mobile.twitter.com/travelgov and Facebook athttps://www.facebook.com/travelgov, and download our free Smart Traveler iPhone App at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/smart-traveler/id442693988?mt=8 to have travel information at your fingertips.
The U.S. Embassy will be open for business as normal on January 13, 2013. The regular work week for the American Citizen Services Unit is Sunday through Wednesday, 08:00-16:00 hours. Emergency American Citizens Services are available at all times. The U.S. Embassy in Dhaka is located at Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka, Bangladesh 1212, and by telephone at (88) (02) 882-3805 during regular hours. If you are a U.S. citizen in need of urgent assistance, the emergency number for the U.S. Embassy is (88) (02) 885-5500. For after-hours emergency services please press “0” and ask for the duty officer.
Source (with thanks):http://dhaka.usembassy.gov
Source (with thanks):http://dhaka.usembassy.gov
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