VZCZCXRO5649
RR RUEHCI
DE RUEHKA #1236/01 2110638
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 300638Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4643
INFO RHMFIUU/DTRA ALEX WASHINGTON DC
RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0063
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 9211
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1763
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 8036
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 2563
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 0858

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 DHAKA 001236 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO CHERYL YOUNG, HQ DOE; EILEEN EISENMAN, 
PNNL; VICKI MCCOY, NNSA; DARLENE ROBERTS, NNSA; GEORGE VERRY NNSA; 
AND BETTY SHORTER, NNSA. 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ENRG KNNP PARM OTRA BG
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR DOE LANDERS +2 
 
REF: SECSTATE 101774 
 
¶1. Embassy Dhaka welcomes CHRISTOPHER LANDERS, DOUGLAS DAHL, and 
GARY STUBBLEFIELD on their August 4 Q 13, 2007 visit and grants 
country clearance contingent upon obtaining a Bangladeshi visa prior 
to arrival (see Paragraph 4.D. below). Although country clearance 
has been granted, visitors should recognize that the political 
situation in Bangladesh remains fluid. Visitors should confirm prior 
to their travel that conditions for a successful visit still exist. 
Based on circumstances, country clearance may be revoked at any 
point. 
 
¶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. 
 
¶4.  Comments: 
 
¶A.  The traveler is advised to carry a copy of this cable with 
Her / him for reference. 
 
¶B.  Lodging arrangements were previously coordinated by traveler. 
 
¶C.  Assistance requested in Reftel has been coordinated. 
 
¶D.  IMPORTANT Q PLEASE NOTE:  Personnel entering Bangladesh are 
required to possess a valid passport with a minimum validity of six 
months after the scheduled departure date from Dhaka. Visas are not 
issued at the airport, and travelers without visas are routinely 
boarded on the next departing flight.  In very limited 
circumstances, including, for example, emergency travel from a 
country with no Bangladeshi Embassy, we will request an airport 
visa.  In such cases, we require (1) a faxed photocopy of the 
travelerQs passport biodata page faxed to 880-2-882-4449 at least 
seven calendar days in advance; and (2) a statement from the post of 
origin confirming there is no Bangladeshi mission in the country. 
 
¶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($4.34) and the travel tax (approximately Taka 2500) ($36.23) 
have been included in the cost of the ticket.  If not included, the 
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 associated with the 
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 visitorQs 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 
travelerQs headquarters, that confirms the agency will pay ICASS 
charges for the TDYer, provides the agency ICASS billing code the 
 
DHAKA 00001236  002 OF 003 
 
 
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 NA cashier.  The exchange rate fluctuates and is currently 
approximately Taka 69 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.  Traveler's checks are not 
widely acceptable with the exception of international hotels.  Most 
major credit cards are accepted at international hotels. 
 
¶8.  Club and Commissary: 
 
¶A.   The American Recreation Association (known as ARA or QThe 
ClubQ) 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 to pay for meals and 
use club facilities (which include tennis court, squash court, 
swimming pool, exercise room, basketball court, and 
restaurant/bar.) 
 
¶B.   The U.S. Commissary facility is available to U.S. citizen 
official visitors who are USG employees.  Payment is limited to USD 
personal check or traveler checks.  Cash payments Q either is US 
dollars or local currency payments are not accepted. Because ARA is 
unable to provide change for transactions using traveler checks, 
small denomination traveler checks are ideal. 
 
¶9.  HEALTH 
 
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 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. 
Intestinal problems are common in Dhaka.  Visitors must exercise 
care in what they eat and drink; food-borne diseases are common. 
Assume 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. 
 
Medical Unit access will be available TO INDIVIDUALS that meet the 
criteria specified in the health unit access chart available on 
med.state.gov. 
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. 
 
DHAKA 00001236  003 OF 003 
 
 
 
¶10.  Security: The Government of Bangladesh declared a State of 
Emergency on January 11.  The situation remains fluid, but this has 
affected life in many ways Q from a ban on political rallies to mass 
arrests of individuals suspected of corruption.  Although foreigners 
have not been targeted in any of the recent violence, visitors need 
to be aware of anti-American sentiment as the result of the Global 
War on Terrorism and events in the Middle East. 
 
¶11.  Post policy authorizes travelers visiting post to hand carry an 
unclassified laptop into the Controlled Access Area providing that 
 
SIPDIS 
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 briefing upon 
arrival. 
 
¶12. The State Department has classified the crime threat in Dhaka as 
high.  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 not 
left unattended in hotel rooms.  The Embassy advises Americans to be 
aware of their surroundings at all times and to avoid predictable 
behavior. The Chief of Mission has declared public transportation to 
be unsafe. The Regional Security Officer has banned the use of 
rickshaws, baby taxis, and other public transport.  Instead, 
visitors will be provided Embassy motor pool support.  In addition, 
visitors should keep the EmbassyQs 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. 
 
PASI