Cablegate: Country Clearance

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

220940Z Aug 05

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 DHAKA 004152

SIPDIS

DIRECT RELAY

E.O.: 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA BG
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

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