US embassy cable - 05DHAKA4188

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 004188 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR MARY ALICE KLEINJAN, ASST. GC FOR ANE 
 
E.O.: 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: OTRA, BG, Country Clearance 
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR MS. REBEKAH EUBANKS 
VISIT. 
 
1.  Embassy Dhaka welcomes MS. Rebekah Eubanks on her o/a 
September 03  22, 2005 visit and grants country clearance, 
contingent repeat contingent on obtaining a Bangladeshi visa in 
her passport prior to arrival in Bangladesh (see Paragraph 3.D. 
and 3.E. below).  Control Officer will be Bobbie Myers.  Contact 
information:  Phone (Office) (88-02)885-5500 Ext. 2303, (Home) 
(88-02) 885-5595, (FAX) (88-02)882-3648, E-mail address: 
bmyers@usaid.gov.  Ms. Eubanks level of security is secret.  The 
purpose of her visit is to provide legal support. 
 
2.  The Mission's workweek is Sunday-Thursday 0800 hours to 1630 
hours.  There will be two holidays during the visit, September 4 
an American holiday and September 20 a local holiday. 
 
3.  Comments: 
 
A.  The traveler is advised to carry a copy of this cable with 
her for reference. 
 
B.  Hotel accommodation has been made at the Royal Park 
Residence, House No. 85, Road No. 25A, Block-A, Banani, Dhaka. 
Phone numbers are: (8802) 881-5945-6, Fax (8802)881-5299. 
 
C.  Embassy expediter will meet and assist upon arrival at the 
airport.  Arrival o/a September 03 on BA 145 and departure BA 144 
o/a September 22, 2005.  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 your 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 
travelers 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.  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 reconfirm onward travel and to verify if the departure 
tax, approximately Taka 300 (approximately USD 5.17) and the 
travel tax (approximately Taka 2500) have been included in the 
cost of the ticket.  If not included, each traveler will be 
required to pay the taxes, in Taka only, at the airport. 
 
5.  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 Citibank 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 Citibank at the 
Chancery will cash traveler checks for Taka only.  Most major 
credit cards are accepted at international hotels. 
 
6.  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 
ash 
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. 
 
7.  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.) 
 
8.  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. 
 
9.  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. 
 
10.  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 Embassys 24-hour emergency telephone number available at all 
times (880-02-885-5500); receptionists are on duty 24 hours a 
day. 
 
11.  Agency specific general information.  N/A 
 
12.  We look forward to your visit.  Chammas