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DE RUEHKA #0189/01 0550832
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R 240832Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8344
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHHJJPI/PACOM IDHS HONOLULU HI
RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 000189 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS PEACE CORPS 
NEW DELHI FOR FAS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL EAID KPAO SCUL EAGR SENV BEXP BG
SUBJECT: AMERICA WEEK - TAKING THE USG ON THE ROAD 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1. Sesame Street, a floating health clinic, jazz concerts, a cricket 
tournament and a biopic of President Obama were only a few of the 
highlights of America Week, a Mission-wide effort to showcase USG 
activities outside Dhaka.  America Week 2009 found us in Barisal in 
southern Bangladesh, which weathered Cyclone Sidr in November 2007. 
Using the Barisal Club and Community Center as a venue with booths 
representing more than 40 U.S.-affiliated businesses and NGOs, more 
than 30 members of Mission Dhaka, led by Ambassador Moriarty and 
USAID Mission Director Rollins, spread throughout greater Barisal 
demonstrating how the U.S. Government works in one of Bangladesh's 
more impoverished regions.  We reached out to more than 10,000 
Barisal residents during America Week and reached millions of 
readers and viewers around Bangladesh with America Week media 
coverage.  Mission Dhaka's America Week has proven to be a 
successful way to promote strong U.S.-Bangladesh relations at the 
grassroots level in this Muslim majority country. 
 
AMERICA WEEK HEADQUARTERED IN BARISAL... 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  The week of January 26 saw Mission Dhaka on the road in Barisal 
with America Week, showcasing the many ways the United States 
continues to build relations with the people of Bangladesh in trade, 
education, health, the environment, and democracy. This year's 
America Week focused on the democratic and economic transitions that 
both the United States and Bangladesh are currently undergoing. 
(NOTE: In previous years, Embassy Dhaka hosted America Week in 
larger Bangladeshi cities including Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi and 
Sylhet.  END NOTE.) 
 
¶3.  The Barisal Club and Community Center in downtown Barisal City 
served as the focal point of America Week.  At this venue, we hosted 
more than 40 information booths and presentations from partners of 
the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), American 
businesses currently working in Bangladesh and Mission offices and 
agencies.  More than 10,000 people from Barisal - including 
children, families, university students, religious and community 
leaders visited the booths and attended educational presentations. 
They learned how to apply to study at a U.S. university, apply for a 
U.S. visa, or participate in a U.S. Government-funded development 
project.  Children shook hands with characters from the 
USAID-sponsored TV show, Sisimpur, inspired by Sesame Street.  The 
Embassy sponsored a jazz concert and hosted screenings of 
critically-acclaimed American films, including a Biography Channel 
documentary on President Obama. 
 
¶4.  Students were among the most enthusiastic participants in 
America Week.  Public Affairs and Consular Affairs teamed up to do 
two presentations on studying in the United States and applying for 
a student visa; each session attracted over one hundred students. 
Presenters focused on the importance of good grades to help students 
gain admission to U.S. universities, obtain financial assistance and 
qualify for a U.S. visa.  The message got through.  On the final 
day, a USAID partner related a story of a student he met at a tea 
stall.  Encouraged by the student advisors and consular staff he met 
during America Week, the student said he had learned he should stop 
worrying about just getting a visa and instead focus on his studies. 
 He told the USAID partner he was going to work hard in school in 
Bangladesh so he could qualify for a scholarship to go and study in 
the United States. 
 
ON THE ROAD AROUND BARISAL DIVISION: FIGHTING TB 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  The Ambassador and USAID Mission Director also highlighted USG 
activities in the region by visiting a broad range of USG-sponsored 
projects focusing on health, education and livelihoods. They 
inaugurated the USG-funded Social Marketing Company's (SMC) floating 
Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Center for 
Tuberculosis Awareness Program supported by USAID, otherwise known 
as TB Ahoy. The boat will provide services to 1,000 people each day 
and benefit more than 200,000 in its first year of service. 
 
WORKING WITH IMAMS 
------------------ 
 
¶6.  The Ambassador also visited several USG-supported education 
projects.  He met with a group of religious leaders participating in 
the USG-funded Leaders of Influence (LOI) Program through USAID at 
the Barisal Imam Training Academy.  The Ambassador and religious 
leaders discussed the role of religious leaders in promoting good 
governance, advancing human rights and maintaining Bangladesh's 
tradition of religious tolerance and harmony, particularly in the 
 
DHAKA 00000189  002 OF 002 
 
 
context of the recent transition of power. 
 
ALL LEVELS OF EDUCATION 
----------------------- 
 
¶7.  At Brojomohun (BM) College in Barisal, the Ambassador met with 
students and spoke about U.S. higher education and the value of 
cross-cultural education. Ambassador Moriarty and USAID Mission 
Director Rollins also visited with Bangladesh's youngest students at 
a USG-funded SUCCEED pre-school in Bakerganj. The USAID-sponsored 
SUCCEED program provides pre-primary education to children to build 
a strong foundation for life-long learning and increase the 
likelihood that children remain in school. 
 
¶8.  In addition to providing direct funding for education, the USG, 
through U.S. Department of Agriculture funding to the World Food 
Program (WFP), will provide U.S. $1.6 million in 2009 for school 
feeding activities in the Cyclone Sidr-affected region of 
Bangladesh. With these funds, WFP will each day provide 133,200 
primary school children in the Barisal region with fortified 
biscuits. The program encourages school attendance of schoolchildren 
affected by Sidr and helps to prevent a recurrence of the surge in 
malnutrition caused by the cyclone. The Ambassador and USAID Mission 
director visited a school in Bakerganj receiving this assistance 
made possible by U.S. Department of Agriculture funds. 
 
CRICKET DIPLOMACY 
----------------- 
 
¶9.  National cricket stars joined the Ambassador for a cricket 
exhibition sponsored by the local police and the U.S. Embassy. The 
event helped build bonds between law enforcement officials and 
average citizens. The Ambassador gave USG-donated cricket equipment 
to 15 local schools, watched a cricket exhibition featuring local 
police and former National Cricket Team members, and swung a bat 
himself.  In addition to the participating students and cricket 
stars, more than 1,000 eager spectators lined the cricket pitch to 
watch the exhibition. 
 
¶10.  The Ambassador and USAID Mission Director also visited several 
USG-funded employment and energy projects in Barisal District. At a 
USAID supported aquaculture project designed to help fish and shrimp 
farmers affected by Cyclone Sidr, the Embassy team met with 
representatives of the 200,000 farmers who had received training on 
fish and shrimp farming techniques, as well as fish and shrimp stock 
and feed. We also visited a home with a Grameen Shakti solar power 
system, improved cooking stove and a bio-gas cooking system that 
makes gas from manure. The USG funds the Grameen Shakti program with 
USAID, which provides solar electricity to more than 200,000 
households across Bangladesh. 
 
THOUSANDS OF VISITORS, MILLIONS OF READERS 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶11.  America Week received excellent media coverage by both Dhaka 
and Barisal-based news outlets.  As a result, while more than 10,000 
people visited America Week events, America Week highlights reached 
millions of readers throughout Bangladesh.  Nationally, news 
agencies published the Ambassador's comments at an opening press 
conference within three hours.  Various key national dailies across 
the political spectrum published America Week-themed articles. 
Locally, America Week dominated headlines in each of Barisal's eight 
newspapers.  Positive coverage was not limited to newspapers. 
Television stations, all based in Dhaka with Barisal correspondents, 
covered America Week's opening as well as highlights from the 
Ambassador's site visits during evening news bulletins. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶12.  Everyone who participated in America Week - from the Mayor of 
Barisal to the street children who wandered wide-eyed around our 
booths - welcomed the opportunity to meet Embassy staff and learn 
more about the ways in which the United States works with 
Bangladesh.  Many Barisal residents voiced appreciation for America 
Week and USG activities from which they benefit directly.  America 
Week, in Barisal and other cities, allows us to "get beyond the 
Beltway" and reach average Bangladeshis.  We appreciate the support 
we received from the Department and other USG agencies that made 
America Week possible.  Given the success of this and previous 
America Weeks, Mission Dhaka plans to continue keep this initiative 
in our diplomatic toolkit and looks forward to taking the Embassy on 
the road again to another remote Bangladesh destination. 
 
Moriarty