Bangladesh: Authorities easing restrictions nationwide from Aug. 11 due to lower COVID-19 activity /update 57

Event

Officials are easing restrictions nationwide from Aug. 11 due to lower local COVID-19 activity. All offices and factories can open with protocols in place. Public transport can operate at full capacity, though road transport companies must limit their vehicles to running at half their schedule. Several public facilities, including shopping malls, can open 10:00-20:00 daily. Hotels and dining-in services at food establishments can operate 08:00-22:00 at half the seating capacity.

Some business disruptions will likely continue to occur due to the ongoing protocols. Protesters have staged demonstrations against COVID-19 restrictions, mainly in Dhaka, prompting business and transport disruptions. Police have used force to disperse participants. Panic-buying and associated localized shortages of essential goods may occur in some areas, possibly affecting the availability of cash at automated teller machines (ATMs) or fuel at filling stations

Travel Restrictions
International flights are operational with passenger capacity limits. Visa-on-arrival services remain suspended until further notice; travelers must obtain a visa from their local diplomatic mission. Arrivals from Botswana, India, Mongolia, Namibia, Nepal, Panama, South Africa, and Tunisia can only enter the country with prior approval and must undergo a 14-day institutional quarantine. Travelers from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Georgia, Kuwait, Malaysia, the Maldives, Oman, the UAE, the UK, and Uruguay must quarantine at government-designated hotels for 14 days upon arrival; fully vaccinated people from these locations may self-quarantine. All other inbound passengers must self-quarantine for 14 days. Symptomatic arrivals may face institutional quarantine. Inbound passengers above the age of 10 must possess a negative result from a COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours before departure; transit passengers must retest before the final leg of their trip to Bangladesh if they exit the airport. Returning overseas Bangladeshi workers in locations without PCR testing facilities may seek prior approval to produce alternative health certification, such as antigen test results.

Outbound air passengers above the age of 10 must test for COVID-19 at a government-approved facility within 72 hours before departing. Exemptions are in place for pre-approved foreigners who leave Bangladesh within 14 days after arriving, as well as diplomatic and official passport holders and their family members. Land border crossings and ports are open for cargo shipments. Passenger ground travel from India remains restricted until further notice, though exemptions are possible for Bangladeshi citizens who enter via the Akhaura, Benapole, and Burimari crossings with permission from the Bangladeshi High Commission.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Emphasize basic health and social distancing precautions. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions. Reconsider and reconfirm nonemergency health appointments.

Resources

World Health Organization (WHO)
Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh
Ministry of Public Administration (Bengali)
Bangladesh Police Movement Pass Application Portal