US embassy cable - 05DHAKA5815

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 DHAKA 005815 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR GLORIA COE, CTO OF HCP, GH/PRH/PEC 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: OTRA, BG, Country Clearance 
SUBJECT:  COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR RAFAEL OBREGON 
 
REF: EMAILS FROM GLORIA COE DATED NOVEMBER 17 AND 23, 2005 
 
Action Required:  See Paragraphs # 2, 4-D and 9. 
 
1.  Embassy Dhaka welcomes Rafael Obregon on his December 10-16, 
2005 visit and grants country clearance, contingent repeat 
contingent on obtaining a Bangladeshi visa on his passport prior 
to arrival in Bangladesh (see Paragraph 3.D. and 3.E. below). 
Control Officer will be Sheri-Nouane Johnson, Deputy Director, 
Office of Population, Health and Nutrition.  Contact information: 
Phone (Office) 88-02-885-5500 Ext. 2345, (Home) 882-885-9923, 
(FAX) 882-3648, E-mail address:  snjohnson@usaid.gov.  Mr. Obregon 
does not have USAID security clearance.  The purpose of his visit 
is determine to what extent HCP has accomplished the purpose set 
forth in the project RFA and technical application to improve the 
capacity of developing country institutions for strategic 
planning, program design, implementation, monitoring and 
evaluation of communication programs and how should capacity 
building be strengthened in the follow-on procurement. 
 
2.  As of January 1, 2005 direct hire and PSC, (non-State 
Department), USG TDY personnel who will be in Bangladesh for 30 
days or more, are required to take and pass the SAFE course. 
SAFE, Safety Abroad for Families and Employees is a four day 
security training course offered by FSI, Department of State. 
Please contact the Office of the Registrar, Room F-2210, SA-42. 
Fax:  703-302-7152.  The Department strongly recommends that 
commercial contract employees and others also take the SAFE 
course.  (For further information, please contact the Assistant 
Director for Training, Diplomatic security, Mr. William Armor at 
armorwd@state.gov or Phone: 703-205-2816.)  See STATE cable 93760 
dated 27 April 2004 and STATE cable 066580 dated 25 March 2004, 
for details. 
 
3.  The Mission's workweek is Sunday-Thursday 0800 hours to 1630 
hours.  There will not be any local/American holidays during the 
visit period. 
 
4.  Comments: 
 
A.   The traveler is advised to carry a copy of this cable with 
him/her for reference. 
 
B.   Hotel reservations have been made/confirmed by the 
USAID/Washington, at the Best Western La Vinci Hotel, House 54 
Kawran Bazar, Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Dhaka, telephone number 
(880-2) 9119352, FAX number (880-2) 913 1218, which is within 
Embassy per diem. 
 
C.   Embassy expediter and control officer will not meet and 
assist her at airport (arriving 12/10/05 at 1500 hrs via Indian 
Airways Flight #IC0732; departure scheduled for 12/16/05 at 0135 
hrs via Dragon Airways Flight #KA111 to Washington via Hong Kong). 
Please advise if there is any change 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 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 
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 that 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. 
 
5.  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 (approximately USD 4.61) 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. 
 
6.  Action Request:  Fiscal Data.  Each visitor, regardless of 
length of stay, must bring/forward fiscal data to pay for direct 
costs of the visit.  Each agency, organization or visiting 
delegation will be charged for the actual costs attributed to its 
visit.  Direct charge costs include, but are not limited to: 
American and LES overtime (for such services as airport 
expediting, cashier accommodation exchange, control room staffing, 
representational event support), travel and per diem costs 
incurred by post personnel in support of visitor's field travel, 
rental of vehicles and other equipment, long distance telephone 
calls, office supplies, gasoline and other vehicle maintenance 
costs, departure tax and other airport fees as appropriate.  For 
TDYers remaining at post over 30 days, there is a charge for ICASS 
support services.  This charge is for the following ICASS 
services:  Basic Package, CLO and Health Services. Agencies will 
not be billed until the accumulated invoice cost for TDY support 
exceeds $2,500 for the fiscal year.  If your sponsoring agency is 
not signed up for ICASS services at post, please be prepared to 
sign a Memorandum of Understanding for ICASS support services upon 
arrival.  The agency should provide post with a written 
communication, generated by the traveler's headquarters, that 
confirms the agency will pay ICASS charges for the TDYer, provides 
the agency ICASS billing code the TDY support charges should be 
applied to, and authorizes the traveler to sign the ICASS invoice 
generated by the TDY module.  Where travel is urgent, the TDYer 
should bring this documentation with him/her to ensure there are 
no interruptions in the provision of service.  Post will not 
provide any service to a TDYer staying in excess of thirty days 
without provision of this documentation before day 31 of the TDY. 
 
7.  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 65 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. 
 
8.  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 650.00.  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. 
 
9.  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. 
 
MEDICAL UNIT ACCESS WILL BE AVAILABLE IF INDIVIDUALS MEET THE 
SPECIFIC CRITERIA ESTABLISHED BY STATE MED AS OUTLINED IN SECSTATE 
2398, 201464, 158215, AND 36783. 
 
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.) 
 
There are a multitude of potential threats to health in 
Bangladesh, and medical resources and facilities are often sub- 
standard.  All visitors are advised to carefully review their 
medical conditions and vaccination status to be sure they are 
optimal.  Although many medications are available in Bangladesh, 
their purity and quality may be poor; visitors should bring their 
own supply. 
 
Certain conditions prevalent in Bangladesh deserve special 
consideration.  Malaria is found in most parts of the country and 
malaria prophylaxis is recommended by the Centers for Disease 
Control outside of Dhaka. Malaria is not generally a problem in 
Dhaka.  Rabies is relatively common in Bangladesh and most dogs 
are not vaccinated; vaccination against rabies is recommended. 
Protection against mosquitoes is important, as they carry dengue 
fever, Japanese encephalitis, and malaria.  Personal protection 
against mosquitoes, including such efforts as mosquito nets, 
application of DEET repellents, and avoidance of areas where 
mosquitoes are known to be prevalent is recommended. 
 
Access to the American Embassy Health Unit in Dhaka is limited to 
medically cleared U.S.G. employees and their eligible family 
members.  All visitors who desire to access the Health Unit (HU) 
must bring copies of their current country-specific health 
clearance for Dhaka (Form DS-823) or transmit their clearance 
status by cable.  U.S.G. employees on official TDY status for less 
than 60 days (cumulative, per year) are allowed access to the HU 
without a current clearance for Dhaka.  Some short-term 
contractors with official MED sanction are also allowed access. 
All other visitors must obtain their health care from other 
sources and are not allowed American Embassy HU access.  The HU 
maintains a list of health resources and can help with referrals. 
Medevac insurance is recommended for persons not covered under the 
Department of State system. 
 
10.  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. 
 
11.  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. 
 
12.  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. 
 
13.  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. 
 
14. Mr. Rafael Obregon will contact mission on arrival to arrange 
briefing and/or debriefing as requested. A final SOW for the 
pending evaluation will be provided to mission prior to departure. 
 
15.  We look forward to your visit. 
GEORGE