Malaysians asked to defer travels to Bangladesh

 

About 300 people have been killed and thousands injured in Bangladesh after weeks of deadly violence that began in July. (AP pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

Malaysians have been advised to postpone all travel to Bangladesh due to the current 

volatile situation

 in the South Asian nation.

In a statement, the foreign ministry said it was closely monitoring developments in Bangladesh and urged all Malaysians residing there to register with the high commission in Dhaka.

Malaysians have also been urged to stay vigilant, avoid conflict zones, and follow local authorities’ instructions.

Earlier today, it was reported that Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus had been named the chief adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government.

This follows the resignation and flight of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who left the country amid a violent crackdown on a student-led uprising.

On Tuesday, Bangladesh president Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved Parliament, paving the way for the interim government and new elections.

His office also announced that the leader of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Begum Khaleda Zia, a former prime minister who had feuded with Hasina for decades, had been freed from house arrest.

The unrest began last month following protests against civil service job quotas which escalated into wider calls for Hasina to stand down.

At least 366 people have died in the unrest that began in early July, according to an AFP tally based on reports from police, government officials and doctors at hospitals. - FMT