AMERICA WEEK 2009 - TELLING AMERICA'S STORY ON THE ROAD IN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 DHAKA 000121 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/INSB, SCA/PPD, SCA/EX, AND R DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR ANE, FRANK YOUNG AND CAROLYN COLEMAN, COO, ALONZO FULGHAM, AND DESK OFFICER CARRIE MITCHELL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EAID SCUL KPAO SOCI BG SUBJECT: AMERICA WEEK 2009 - TELLING AMERICA'S STORY ON THE ROAD IN BANGLADESH SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Mission Dhaka made a splash in northwest Bangladesh with America Week Rajshahi, highlighting the U.S.-Bangladesh partnership and making key contacts outside the capital in this densely populated Muslim-majority country. The three-day Mission-wide outreach program included a cricket match, film screenings, student advising events, visa information sessions, and a carnival-like interactive booth area. America Week brought together Mission Dhaka agencies and sections, USG development partners and American businesses. Rajshahi is a divisional capital and the largest city in the under-governed northwest of Bangladesh, an area bordering India where the U.S. seeks to help the GOB counter human trafficking and transnational terrorists. Mission Dhaka reached more than 17,000 local inhabitants through visits to educational institutions; USG-funded development projects; and Mission-sponsored events throughout the greater Rajshahi area. Our audience included politicians, local business leaders, students, academics, religious leaders, journalists, sports fans, development practitioners, children and members of the general public. ROAD SHOW TO RAJSHAHI -------------- ¶2. (U) Over 50 members of Mission Dhaka, led by the Ambassador and USAID Mission Director, participated in the December 8-10 America Week program highlighting U.S.-Bangladesh cooperation in development, trade, education, environment, and democracy. The theme of this annual event was "Community," focusing on local and global community service. This was the second America Week in Rajshahi. The local population had fond memories of the last America Week in 2004. Mission Dhaka has staged previous America Week programs in Chittagong, Sylhet, Khulna, and Barisal. HOME SWEET PARJATAN MOTEL -------------- ¶3. (U) The focal point of America Week was the GOB-owned Parjatan Hotel, which has seen better days. However, staff transformed the hotel, with its spacious lawn and accommodating staff, into a welcoming red, white, and blue venue for over 50 information booths. Booths featured USAID partners, American businesses currently working in Bangladesh, and various Mission Dhaka offices and agencies. The ever-popular characters from Sisimpur (the USG-funded Bangladeshi version of Sesame Street) contributed to the festive atmosphere. The Parjatan also accommodated briefing rooms for USAID partners, the Embassy's Consular Section and the press. RAJSHAHI'S HARD ROW TO HOE -------------- ¶4. (SBU) America Week's Chief Guest, Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism Ghulam M. Quader, is himself from Rajshahi division, an impoverished area regularly hit by monga, or seasonal famine. He advised the Ambassador how difficult it had been to promote economic development in Rajshahi. Due to the lack of a gas pipeline, Rajshahi does not have enough electricity to foster industrial growth. After nudging from the Ambassador, Quader said the government would look into expanding electricity generation by coal in Rajshahi. U.S. VISA OUTREACH POPULAR -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The Consular Section organized five diversity visa (DV) presentations, three business visa presentations, and two student visa presentations. Most presentations garnered thirty to eighty attendees, with increasing attendance as America Week progressed. An additional student visa presentation was added to meet high demand. The student visa presentations and outreach events received the highest numbers of attendees. Audiences displayed a mix of enthusiasm and wariness; misinformation was rampant, and some attendees expressed concern that the U.S. did not welcome Muslims. For example, one attendee at a DV presentation said that a local agent claimed that applicants with beards would be ineligible for DV. The Consul General subsequently visited the alleged agent, who denied providing false information to applicants. ON THE ROAD AROUND RAJSHAHI -------------- ¶6. (U) The Mission reached various audiences throughout the district of Rajshahi. Students were among the week's most enthusiastic participants. The Public Affairs Section and the Consular Section teamed up for three student outreach presentations, including a DHAKA 00000121 002.2 OF 003 standing-room-only event by the Ambassador at Rajshahi University, the second-largest university in Bangladesh. Overall, students exhibited impressive English skills, a higher-than-expected level of knowledge about U.S. higher education, and anxiety over the visa process and the costs of education. LEADERS OF INFLUENCE PROGRAM REVERBERATES -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The Ambassador and Mrs. Moriarty had an extraordinary open conversation with 30 alumni of the USAID's Leaders of Influence program. Mrs. Moriarty gave a presentation on the role of religion within American politics, stressing that, even though the United States does not have a government-sponsored religion, it is a religious country where our leader's personal religious, moral and ethical beliefs guide their thoughts and decision-making. The discussion period yielded a welcome frankness by all attendees. One imam whose congregation consists entirely of police officers and government employees said that, before participating in the Leaders of Influence program, he would only discuss religious matters in his Friday sermon. During the program, he realized that the secular and the spiritual could not be separated, and he started telling his parishioners they may get away with corruption in this world, but God is watching and will punish you in the next. Policemen have since come to him and told him that since he explained the religious consequences of their wrong-doings, they have stopped demanding bribes. ENGLISH TRAINING FOR MADRASSA TEACHERS -------------- ¶8. (SBU) The Ambassador inaugurated a State Department-funded English training program for madrassa teachers and imams, which trains educators in communicative English skills while introducing them to American culture. This Post-initiated program has already trained over 500 madrassa teachers and imams in Dhaka and Chittagong, the country's two largest cities. The Rajshahi program will reach religious leaders in an area known for conservative ideology and a history of religious extremism. ANTI-CORRUPTION MESSAGE -------------- ¶9. (U) Ambassador Moriarty and USAID Mission Director Rollins participated in a USG-sponsored event in Rajshahi celebrating International Anti-Corruption Day, along with the Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission as Chief Guest. The USG-funded organization Rupantar presented a folk music and dance performance with anti-corruption themes, followed by rallies where USG partner PROGATI distributed 10,000 red t-shirts bearing anti-corruption messages to the general public. CRICKET DIPLOMACY -------------- ¶10. (U) 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 fifteen local schools, watched a cricket exhibition featuring police, students, and former and current National Cricket Team members, and swung a bat himself. The Ambassador whiffed badly. In addition to participating students and cricket stars, more than 6,500 spectators lined the cricket pitch to watch the exhibition. HEALTH, ANTI-TRAFFICKING AND CULTURE -------------- ¶11. (U) Other America Week highlights included a visit to clinics providing basic medical care and shelter to populations at high risk for HIV/AIDS; educational performances encouraging communities to fight trafficking in persons; and programs focusing on family planning and healthy living. Recognizing the region's rich cultural heritage, the Ambassador visited the Varendra Research Museum, a past Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation grantee, which houses a priceless collection of Hindu, Islamic and pre-Islamic statues, manuscripts, coins, and other artifacts that highlight the rich history of North Bengal. COMMENT -------------- ¶12. (SBU) America Week participants - from local political and business leaders to the throngs of students who packed student visa presentations - welcomed the opportunity to meet Mission Dhaka staff and partners and learn more about the U.S.-Bangladesh partnership. America Week in Rajshahi and other cities around Bangladesh provides DHAKA 00000121 003 OF 003 an opportunity for Mission staff to go on the road together to directly engage the 140 million Bangladeshis who live outside the capital. America Week demonstrates U.S. focus on engagement beyond the Dhaka bubble, the locus of the over-centralization of government, business, healthcare, and education that impedes Bangladesh's development. Mission Dhaka appreciates the financial support from the South Central Asia bureau that made America Week a success. MORIARTY