India, Dec. 16 -- The US Embassy in Dhaka has issued a nationwide security alert for its citizens ahead of Bangladesh's national elections, scheduled to be held on February 12.

In its advisory, the Embassy cautioned: "U.S. citizens should practice vigilance and remember that demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence."

The US Embassy urged its citizens to remain vigilant, avoid large crowds, closely monitor local media for updates, and stay aware of their surroundings throughout the election period.

In a televised address, Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, as quoted by The Daily Star, appealed for peaceful participation in the democratic process.

"I call upon all political par...