Dhaka, Sep 05 (V7N) — The United States has maintained Bangladesh on its 'red list' of travel-risk countries, advising US citizens to avoid travel to the country due to safety concerns. The updated list, released by the US State Department on Wednesday, places Bangladesh among 21 countries identified as having high travel risks.

This designation is part of the US State Department's Level 4 travel warning, the most severe category, which recommends avoiding travel to countries where there is a significant threat to personal safety.

In addition to Bangladesh, the countries currently redlisted include Afghanistan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Central African Republic, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Yemen.

Bangladesh's inclusion on the list follows the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, after widespread protests related to the quota reform movement and the demands of the anti-discrimination student movement. Following her resignation, the US added Bangladesh to the list of high-risk travel countries, citing the nation's political instability and the ongoing civil unrest.

The US government has urged its citizens to avoid travelling to these red-listed nations until further notice, citing concerns over security, armed conflict, and risks posed to travellers.

The situation remains fluid, and updates from the US State Department are expected as conditions change in these regions.