Flight Itinerary

I received my flight itinerary today. According to the information below, I'll be in the air a total of about 17 hours on the way to Bangladesh, and about 21 hours on the return trip (slightly longer because I am re-routing to visit family in upstate NY). Both flights have a layover in London.

The time difference between D.C. and Dhaka is +11 hours.

09 Jun 07 - Saturday

Air United Airlines Flt:924 Economy Multi Meals
Lv Washington Dulles 947p Eqp: Boeing 777
07hr 13min

10 Jun 07 - Sunday
Ar London Heathrow 1000a Non-Stop
Arrive: Terminal 3

Air British Airways Flt:145 Economy Meals
Lv London Heathrow 325p Eqp: Boeing 777
Depart: Terminal 4 09hr 45min

11 Jun 07 - Monday
Ar Dhaka 610a Non-Stop

Return flight:

11 Aug 07 - Saturday

Air British Airways Flt:144 Economy Meals
Lv Dhaka 825a Eqp: Boeing 777
10hr 40min
Ar London Heathrow 205p Non-Stop
Arrive: Terminal 4

Air United Airlines Flt:925 Economy Multi Meals
Lv London Heathrow 420p Eqp: Boeing 777
Depart: Terminal 3 08hr 12min
Ar Washington Dulles 732p Non-Stop

Air United Airlines Flt:8331 Economy
Washington Dulles-Ottawa On Operated By Air Canada
Lv Washington Dulles 920p Eqp: Canadair Reg Jet
01hr 30min
Ar Ottawa On 1050p Non-Stop

In the News: "Give Bangladesh Priority: US Team Urges Bush"

By Nazrul Islam, Dhaka, May 13:

A high-powered US delegation that made a brief visit to Bangladesh has suggested the Bush administration to give Dhaka high priority as a strategic partner in the US's efforts on war on terror, especially against the Islamic extremists.

The delegation headed by a Congressman, in a letter to US President, also praised the role of the Bangladesh's military forces, which is now backing the interim government to fight corruption and bring transparency in political process, according to a media report.

"The US has rare opportunity now to help shape the future of an important nation. Bangladesh is potentially a crucial player in the struggle against Islamic extremism, and this is a crucial period for that country," the Daily Star newspaper quoted the letter to have said.

The five-member delegation, headed by Congressman Curt Weldon, during the visit held a series of meetings with leaders in the interim administration, senior civil and military officials and businessmen.

Bangladesh is geo-politically important because of its three nuclear-capable neighbours - India, China and Pakistan - in the region.

The team also comprised the former deputy assistance secretary of defence W Bruce Weinrod, retired US Air Force Major General Ronald J Bath, retired US Army Colonel Timothy D Ringgold, and retired US Coast Guard commander Michael D Kearney.

They had discussions with various leaders and officials in Bangladesh keeping in mind the US foreign and national security policies against the backdrop of its exposure to Islamic extremism to develop the framework for a major conference on homeland security issues to be held in Bangladesh later this year.

The letter said the US could help ensure a democratic and pro-Western nation, and prevent the emergence of another highly unstable Islamic nation vulnerable to extremism by giving priority to Bangladesh.

The team termed Bangladesh as a generally moderate Islamic country although it is the third largest Muslim country, and it could be "a strong member of a moderate Islamic coalition that rejects fanaticism and terrorism".

The security team in its letter also recommended that the US take a pro-active role in assisting Bangladesh to improve its political and economic situation so that Bangladesh will not provide fertile ground for extremist fanaticism.

It noted that Bangladesh was passing through a "political and economic transition" when key leaders were seeking to strengthen and deepen the national democratic political system and also crack down on "endemic" corruption.

On increased defense ties, the letter pointed out that the Bangladeshi military plays a key role in the nation.

"The military leadership is at this time assuming a low-profile and positive role in encouraging needed changes in the Bangladeshi political system" and in the efforts to end rampant corruption there.

"The US should reinforce and in effect reward the Bangladeshi military for their role and restraint. Enhanced military-to-military and as appropriate, civilian-to-military programs and visits are very much in the US national interest," the delegation's letter said.

Why I'm Going & What I'll Be Doing

In February, 2007, I applied - mostly on a whim and with little hope of actually receiving it - for a scholarship offered through the State Department and the Council for American Overseas Research Centers. The scholarship was for an intensive language study in Bangladesh. Bangla has been identified by the State Department as a critical need language under the National Security Language Initiative.

Over 10,400 applications were received for the 367 available scholarships in 11 different critical languages. I was fortunate enough to be the recipient of one of those scholarships, and will be studying Bangla in Dhaka, Bangladesh at the Independent University of Bangladesh (IUB) from June 7 through August 11, 2007.

The program is equivalent to one year of college-level instruction. The emphasis will be on aural comprehension and speaking, with reading and writing complementary. At the conclusion of the program, students should expect to have command of basic structures of grammar, the ability to comprehend basic speech, speak a functional Bangla sufficient to negotiate everyday situations, and read and write simple prose and poetry with the aid of a dictionary.

Classes will be held from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sunday through Thursday.
Class instruction will include:

• Lessons on the structures of the language, grammar, lexicon, etc.
• Conversational drills and aural comprehension
• Breakout groups for individualized conversation, role playing, and task-oriented activities
• “Adda” - directed conversation with local students
• Lectures by visiting scholars, artists, actors, health care workers, etc.

Students will also participate in a variety of cultural enrichment activities:

• Museums
• Archaeological & Historical Sites
• Religious Sites
• Political Centers
• Educational Centers
• Development
• Art, Theatre, Music

Needless to say, I am very much looking forward to this opportunity! The next month will entail the completion of a significant amount of paperwork, obtaining of inoculations, and general rearranging of my work, school, and personal life. While there will likely be little blogging in the interim, I do intend to post regularly while I am away, and will have regular access to e-mail, so please keep in touch!

Information from the CIA World Factbook

Europeans began to set up trading posts in the area of Bangladesh in the 16th century; eventually the British came to dominate the region and it became part of British India. In 1947, West Pakistan and East Bengal (both primarily Muslim) separated from India (largely Hindu) and jointly became the new country of Pakistan. East Bengal became East Pakistan in 1955, but the awkward arrangement of a two-part country with its territorial units separated by 1,600 km left the Bengalis marginalized and dissatisfied. East Pakistan seceded from its union with West Pakistan in 1971 and was renamed Bangladesh. About a third of this extremely poor country floods annually during the monsoon rainy season, hampering economic development.

Despite sustained domestic and international efforts to improve economic and demographic prospects, Bangladesh remains a poor, overpopulated, and inefficiently-governed nation. Although more than half of GDP is generated through the service sector, nearly two-thirds of Bangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector, with rice as the single-most-important product. Major impediments to growth include frequent cyclones and floods, inefficient state-owned enterprises, inadequate port facilities, a rapidly growing labor force that cannot be absorbed by agriculture, delays in exploiting energy resources (natural gas), insufficient power supplies, and slow implementation of economic reforms. Reform is stalled in many instances by political infighting and corruption at all levels of government. Opposition from the bureaucracy, public sector unions, and other vested interest groups also have blocked progress. On an encouraging note, growth has been a steady 5-6% for the past several years.

Location:
Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India

Size:
slightly smaller than Iowa

Climate:
humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)

Population:
150,448,339
The population of Bangladesh ranks seventh in the world, but its area of approximately 55,600 sq mi is ranked ninety-fourth, making it one of the most densely populated countries in the world, or the most densely populated country if small island nations and city-states are not included.

Religions:
Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1%

Languages:
Bangla (official, also known as Bengali)

Government:
parliamentary democracy