Warden Message

Warden Message, May 4, 2006

Thank you for attending our Town Hall Meeting last month. As she promised, Ambassador Butenis is sending you the update you requested on what we are doing to help Bangladesh. I hope it will be helpful.

Please remember to check our website at dhaka.usembassy.gov for security notices. If you haven't already read the link on personal safety, please check it out at http://www.state.gov/m/ds/rls/rpt/19773.htm)

MESSAGE FROM AMBASSADOR PATRICIA A. BUTENIS

Dear Fellow American citizens:

Town Hall meetings are an excellent opportunity for our American community to share information and I enjoyed our conversation at the April 13 meeting. Some of you said you wanted to know more about USG assistance to Bangladesh, so I am providing a summary of just some of our programs below. I encourage you to visit our website at http://dhaka.usembassy.gov for additional information about the full scope of USG assistance to and cooperation with Bangladesh. Of course, you are always welcome to contact dhakaACS@state.gov for specific information concerning American Citizens Services.

I. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (DOJ) PROGRAM: http://dhaka.usembassy.gov/doj.html: Opened its office in Bangladesh in March 2005 with the arrival of the Resident Legal Advisor (RLA) who is an Assistant United States Attorney.

Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Terrorist Financing (TF): The DOJ’s primary focus has been on developing Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Terrorist Financing (TF) legislation and conducting training programs in AML/TF investigations for officials from the central bank, police, Law Ministry, Finance Ministry, the Judicial Training Institute, and the Attorney General’s Office. In conjunction with the central bank, RLA is working to set up a Financial Intelligence Unit so that Bangladesh can be a full partner in the international arena of fighting money laundering and terrorist financing. In addition to the AML/TF activities, the RLA’s office conducted a training course for police and investigators from around the country in Trafficking in Persons (TIP) cases.

II. OFFICE OF DEFENSE COOPERATION (ODC), HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE (HA) PROGRAM: http://dhaka.usembassy.gov/odc.html : HA is used solely for humanitarian, disaster preparedness, and disaster response projects, with emphasis on disaster preparedness. The primarily intent is to bolster indigenous capacity to respond to natural or manmade disaster, thereby reducing the need for outside response to a major foreign disaster.

MALUMGHAT SCHOOL/SHELTER PROJECT: This ODC project is constructing a schoolhouse cum disaster shelter and a bridge in the vicinity of Malumghat, Bangladesh. The site was chosen to serve as a shelter based on it’s proximity to flood prone areas. The building will be used as a school when not needed as a flood shelter. Funding was provided in the fall of 2005, with design work completed and construction begun in November 2005. The completion date for construction of this multi-purpose facility and bridge is the middle to late summer of 2006.

III. USAID PROGRAM www.usaid.gov/bd : Since 1971, USAID has provided over $5 billion in development assistance to Bangladesh, with over half of that amount in food aid. USAID currently dedicates $80 million each year to improve the lives of people in Bangladeshpromoting democratic institutions and practices; expanding economic opportunities; investing in human capital for a healthier and better educated population, and improving food security and disaster mitigation for vulnerable populations.

PROMOTING DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS AND PRACTICES: USAID supports national policies and democratic institutions to be more transparent and responsive to citizen input. With USAID assistance, Bangladeshi NGOs are helping ensure credible and transparent elections, promotion of human rights and citizen participation in local government, including cooperation between local government and citizen co-management groups to improve biodiversity and conservation of natural resources.

EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPURTUNITIES: USAID seeks to expand economic opportunities to poor people living in Bangladesh with a focus on equity. Programs will help create income and jobs in select areas while promoting greater participation of women and youth as business leaders, developing workforce skills and strengthening public-private sector alliances. USAID assists Bangladesh expand access to global markets and works closely with the Bangladesh Government to stimulate private sector development through economic policy reform.

INVESTING IN HUMAN CAPITAL: USAID works with NGOs and the Government of Bangladesh to improve and expand health care for the poor. NGO health clinics provide high quality family planning and basic health services to more than 26 million people each year. USAID also provides education about reproductive health and HIV/AIDS prevention among populations at risk and works to ensure the availability of contraceptives. USAID’s early childhood education program prepares pre-school age boys and girls to succeed in primary school by improving their reading and math skills. USAID funded Sisimpur, a Sesame Workshop-Bangladesh television program that is one of the most popular educational children’s shows in Bangladesh.

IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY AND DISASTER MITIGATION: USAID works to improve food security in the poorest and most disaster-prone areas in rural Bangladesh. USAID also improves family nutrition by teaching home gardening techniques and working with poor farmers to diversify crops.

We can all be proud of the contributions America has made to a better life for the people of Bangladesh. If you would like additional information, please contact the Embassy at dhaka@usaid.gov

Sincerely,

Patricia A. Butenis
Ambassador
U.S.Embassy
Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The U.S. Embassy in Dhaka can be reached at (880-2) 885-5500 during regular hours and for after-hours emergencies. For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov/, where the current Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, Bangladesh Public Announcement, Bangladesh Consular Information Sheet and other Public Announcements and Travel Warnings can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S.; or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 am to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. Federal holidays)