US embassy cable - 05DHAKA4152

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 DHAKA 004152 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DIRECT RELAY 
 
E.O.: 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: OTRA, BG, Country Clearance 
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE 
 
 
TO: Mr. Marc Companion, Project Manager 
Associates in Rural Development, Inc. 
159 Bank Street, Third Floor 
Burlington, Vermont 05401 
Phone:  802-658-3890 
Fax:  802-658-4247 
Email: MCompanion@ardinc.com 
 
1.  Embassy Dhaka welcomes Mr. Paul Bell, a Local 
Government Association Specialist of ARD Inc. on his Sept 
11, 2005 visit and grants country clearance - contingent, 
repeat contingent on obtaining a Bangladeshi visa in his 
passport prior to arrival in Bangladesh (see Paragraph 3.D. 
and 3.E. below). The purpose of Mr. Bell's travel is to 
provide technical and advisory assistance to the BUPF and 
MAB. Mr. Bell's travel period will cover from Sept 11 - 15, 
2005. Control Officer will be Todd M. Sorenson, Director, 
DG-ED.  Contact information: Phone (office) 880-2-885-5500, 
x2798; (home) 880-2-885-5576; (fax) 880-2-882-3648; 
(mobile) 0171-593-264 and E-mail address: 
tosorenson@usaid.gov. We understand that as a contractor, 
Mr. Paul Bell does not have any US Government security 
clearance. 
 
2.  The Mission's work week is Sunday-Thursday from 0800 
hours to 1630 hours.  There will be no holidays during the 
visit period. 
 
3.  Comments: 
 
A. The traveler is advised to carry a copy of this cable 
with him for reference. 
 
B. The traveler has arranged accommodation in Dhaka at the 
Lake Castle Hotel in Gulshan. 
 
C.  Embassy expediter will not meet and assist at airport. 
The traveler is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on Sept 11 at 
10:30 P.M via SA flight#436 and to depart on Sept 15. 
Please keep control officer informed about any change/s in 
flight information.  Travelers making more than one 
connecting flight should consider rechecking their baggage, 
especially if transferring within the region.  Embassy also 
advises carrying a change of clothes and all important 
documents in your carry-on bags. 
 
D.  IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE:  Personnel entering Bangladesh 
are required to possess a valid passport, with a minimum 
validity of six months.  A valid visa is required prior to 
arrival.  There are no exceptions.  Any traveler arriving 
without a valid visa will be returned to the United States 
or their county of origin upon the next available flight. 
Visas are no longer issued upon arrival.  Please ensure 
that you visa is valid for at least six months after your 
scheduled departure date from Dhaka. 
 
E.  In special circumstances, Post will arrange for an 
airport visa upon arrival for persons originating travel to 
Bangladesh from countries where there is no Bangladesh visa- 
issuing mission.  For an airport visa we require (1) a 
faxed photocopy of the traveler's passport bio-data page, 
sent to 880-2-882-4449 at least 7 calendar days in advance; 
and (2) a statement from the losing post that there is no 
Bangladesh mission in country XXX.  The Embassy will not, 
repeat, not provide this service to persons originating 
travel in countries that have a Bangladesh visa-issuing 
mission.  However, we urge all travelers to attempt to 
obtain a visa prior to traveling to Post. 
 
4.  Departure and onward travel:  All departing personnel 
(including holders of diplomatic and official passports) 
are urged to use the services of the U.S. Mission's travel 
agent for reconfirming onward travel and to verify if the 
departure tax, approximately Taka 300 or USD 5.17, has been 
included in the cost of the ticket.  If not included, each 
traveler will be required to pay the departure tax, in Taka 
only, at the airport. 
 
5.  Action Request:  Fiscal Data.  Each visitor must 
provide fiscal data to cover costs of the visit if those 
costs are not being supported by an agency at post.  Each 
agency, organization or visiting delegation will be charged 
for the actual costs attributed to their visit.  These 
costs include, but are not limited to American and LES 
staff overtime, pouching service, field travel by Embassy 
employees, bus rentals, cell phone rental, long distance 
telephone calls, equipment rentals, office supplies, 
expeditor services, representational events and all other 
costs which are directly attributable to the visit. 
 
6.  Currency:  The local use of U.S. Dollars (USD) is 
prohibited by law, except for the payment of a hotel bill. 
The local currency, the Taka, must be used for all other 
local transactions.  Accommodation exchange is available at 
the Chancery through the Citi Bank, N.Y cashier.  The 
exchange rate fluctuates and is currently approximately 
Taka 64 to USD 1.00.  Reverse accommodation exchange is 
available only at the original place of exchange with 
original documents and receipts as proof.  Automatic Teller 
Machines (ATMs) are limited and dispense Taka only. 
Travelers checks cannot be used in most establishments 
except international hotels.  However, the Citi Bank N.Y at 
the Chancery will cash traveler checks for Taka only.  Most 
major credit cards are accepted at international hotels. 
 
7.  Club and Commissary: 
 
A.  The American Recreation Association (known as ARA or 
"The Club") facility is available to U.S. citizen official 
visitors for a temporary membership fee of USD 10.00 per 
week.  This can not be pro-rated for a shorter visit.  In 
addition to the membership fee, you will be required to 
purchase a cash card, USD 10.00 per card or Taka 600.00.  A 
copy of your passport data page or a passport-sized 
photograph is necessary to obtain a cash card.  This card 
will enable you to have meals and use club facilities 
(which include tennis court, squash court, swimming pool, 
exercise room, and restaurant/bar.) 
 
B.  The U.S. Commissary facility is available to U.S. 
citizen official visitors who are USG employees.  However, 
payment is permitted only by USD personal check or traveler 
checks.  Cash dollars and local currency payments cannot be 
accepted. Change will not be provided for transactions 
using traveler checks.  Therefore, smaller denomination 
traveler checks would be more useful. 
 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
8.  NOTE: Health - Post cannot emphasize strongly enough 
that all travelers must have health insurance that will 
cover medical evacuations by air ambulance.  Travelers 
should carry with them the 24/7 contact information for 
their insurer.  Medical care in Bangladesh is very basic 
and Post does not recommend that anyone remain hospitalized 
here. 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
Intestinal problems are common in Dhaka.  Visitors must 
exercise care in what they eat and drink; food-borne 
diseases are common.  Presume that all tap water is 
contaminated, even in hotels.  Travelers are advised to 
drink bottled/boiled water and eat only fruits and 
vegetables that have been cooked and peeled.  Undercooked 
meat should be avoided.  Travelers should also avoid eating 
uncooked dairy products and food sold on the streets. 
Visitors who take medication on a regular basis should 
bring enough for the duration of their visit.  It is not 
always possible to find equivalents for American 
prescriptions on the local market.  In general, local 
medical facilities are substandard.  The U.S. Mission has a 
Medical Unit staffed by a U.S. Physician and registered 
nurses.  Travelers venturing outside Dhaka are advised to 
use standard anti-malaria prophylaxis, including taking 
appropriate anti-malarial medication, using mosquito 
protection and the use of bed netting.  It is strongly 
recommended that all visitors bring a supply of mosquito 
repellent to Dhaka.  There have been cases of mosquito- 
borne illnesses, including malaria and dengue fever, which 
is transmitted by a day-biting mosquito.  The only 
effective repellant we are aware of contains DEET (20% DEET 
is the maximum that is considered safe for children). 
Supplies are usually available in the commissary; however 
it is a good idea to have your own supply should you arrive 
in Dhaka when the commissary is not open.  We also 
recommend that travelers have updated immunizations, 
especially an up-to-date typhoid immunization (either oral 
or injectable.) 
 
9.  Security: Bangladesh continues to experience some anti- 
American sentiment as the result of U.S. military and other 
actions in the war against terrorism, and events in the 
Middle East.  Anti-American demonstrations throughout 
Bangladesh, which generally occur on Friday afternoons, 
have the potential to take place any time and to be unruly. 
In addition, the longstanding confrontation between the two 
leading political parties has prompted general strikes 
(hartals), public demonstrations and marches.  They can be 
called on very short notice and can turn violent.  Normal 
vehicular traffic is discouraged during hartals.  Visitors 
should strictly avoid all political protests, 
demonstrations and marches.  They should consider possible 
security risks in deciding whether to attend other 
gatherings. 
 
10.  Post policy authorizes travelers visiting post to hand 
carry an unclassified laptop into the Controlled Access 
Area providing that the laptop is transported under the 
immediate personal control of the traveler, or is 
transported via diplomatic pouch, with prior approval of 
the RSO.  All travelers must also maintain continuous, 
immediate custody of a laptop while in the CAA.  Further 
instructions will be given during the security brief upon 
arrival. 
 
11.  The Embassy advises Americans to be aware of their 
surroundings at all times, to avoid predictable behavior, 
and not to accept packages from unknown individuals. 
Sensitive or personal matters should not be discussed over 
local telephone lines. 
 
12.  The State Department has classified the crime threat 
in Dhaka as high.  Foreigners are not generally the target 
of violent crime.  However, pick-pocketing, purse-snatching 
and other forms of street crime occur frequently, 
especially in areas frequented by foreigners.  Visitors 
should avoid walking alone after dark, carrying large sums 
of money, or wearing expensive jewelry.  Valuables should 
be stored in the hotel safety deposit box and should not be 
left unattended in hotel rooms.  Visitors should use the 
Embassy Motor Pool as the Chief of Mission has declared 
public transportation to be unsafe. The Regional Security 
Officer strongly discourages the use of rickshaws, baby 
taxis, and other public transport.  In addition, you should 
keep the Embassy's 24-hour emergency telephone number 
available at all times (880-02-885-5500); receptionists are 
on duty 24 hours a day. 
 
13.  We look forward to your visit.  CHAMMAS