Bangladesh Calling Card
Background Notes Archive - South Asia
U.S. Department of StateBackground Notes: Bangladesh, November 1997Released by the Bureau of South Asian AffairsOfficial Name: People's Republic of Bangladesh PROFILE GeographyArea: 143,998 sq. km. (55,813 sq. mi.); about the size of Wisconsin. Cities: Capital--Dhaka (pop. 10 million). Other cities--Chittagong (2.8 million), Khulna (1.8 million), Rajshahi (1 million). Terrain: Mainly flat alluvial plain, with hills in the northeast and southeast. Climate: Semitropical, monsoonal. PeopleNationality: Noun and adjective--Bangladeshi(s). Population: 126 million.Annual growth rate: 1.5%. Ethnic groups: Bengali 98%, tribal groups, non-Bengali Muslims. Religions: Muslim 83%; Hindu 16%; Christian, Buddhist, others 1%.Languages: Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English. Education: Attendance--73% (primary school), 17% (secondary school). Literacy--47% for males; 22% for females. Health: Infant mortality rate--75/1,000. Life expectancy--58 years (male), 58 years (female). ... [Read More]
Daily Press Briefing for April 27-- Transcript
MR. ERELI: I think what we're calling for is again -- you know, the situation is not the same as the Ukraine. Togo is not the Ukraine. The institutions of Togo are different than the institutions of Ukraine. The history of Togo is different than the history of the Ukraine. So it would be ridiculously ignoring the reality in Togo to say that the people of Togo should do as the people of Ukraine. ... The United States joins the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States in calling for the formation of a national reconciliation government in Togo in which all the principal political forces in the country participate. The goal of such a government or the purpose of such a government would be to heal the political divisions in Togo created by this election process and to focus on constitutional reform and an electoral code that would allow for fully credible, transparent and free elections in the future. ... [Read More]
TRAFFICKING IN CHILDREN: West and Central Africa
Other United Nations agencies, particularly the ILO and UNICEF, have long been leaders in the battle to end child trafficking and to rehabilitate its victims. In conjunction with the 2002 African Cup of Nations soccer tournament, the ILO launched a "Red Card to Child Labor" campaign to educate millions of fans to the harsh reality of child labor and mobilize public opinion against it. Inspired by the red card handed out by referees to signal that a soccer player has been expelled from the game for serious rules violations, the campaign featured banners, thousands of spectators waving the red card, and screened messages from players and celebrities. The ILO says it plans to expand the campaign to tournaments in Latin America, Asia, and Europe, with the goal of celebrating universal ratification of its Convention 182 at the World Cup tournament in 2006. ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Transcript: State Department Noon Briefing, April 23
QUESTION: Do you have any response to a letter that was sent yesterday from Representative Tom Lantos regarding the recent speech from the president of Sudan calling on -- saying that he was going to reopen military training camps for Sudanese to help fight the Intifada in the West Bank and in Gaza? ... We will continue to provide emergency American citizen services. American citizens needing emergency assistance can reach a consular official by calling the Embassy switchboard on 967-1-303-155. And the Embassy will resume full services to the public at the appropriate time. ... [Read More]
Burma
Religious affiliation sometimes is indicated on Government-issued identification cards that citizens and permanent residents of the country are required to carry at all times. There appear to be no consistent criteria governing whether religion is indicated on an identification card. Citizens also are required to indicate their religion on some official application forms, such as passports, which have a separate "field" for religion, as well as ethnicity. ... Members of the Muslim Rohingya minority in Arakan State, on the country's western coast, continued to experience severe legal, economic, and social discrimination. The Government denies citizenship status to most Rohingyans on the grounds that their ancestors allegedly did not reside in the country at the start of British colonial rule, as required by the country's highly restrictive citizenship law. Muslim Rohingya minority returnees from Bangladesh complained of severe government restrictions on their ability to travel and to engage in economic activity. Unlike the practice for other foreign persons in the country, these Muslims are not issued a Foreign Registration Card. They are required to obtain permission from the township authorities whenever they wish to leave their village area. Authorities generally do not grant permission to Rohingya Muslims, or other native non-Muslim Arakanese, to travel to Rangoon. However, permission sometimes can be obtained through bribery. In additio ... [Read More]
Background Notes Archive - South Asia
U.S. Department of StateBackground Notes: India, November 1997Released by Bureau of South Asian AffairsOfficial Name: Republic Of IndiaPROFILEGeographyArea: 3.3 million sq. km. (1.3 million sq. mi.); about 1/3 the size of the U.S.Cities: Capital--New Delhi (pop. 9 million). Other major cities--Mumbai (formerly Bombay) (13 million), Calcutta (12 million), Chennai (formerly Madras)(6 million), Bangalore (5 million), Hyderabad (3.5 million), Ahmedabad (3.6 million).Terrain: Varies from Himalayas to flat river valleys.Climate: Temperate to subtropical monsoon.People Nationality: Noun and adjective--Indian(s).Population: (1997 est.) 952 million; urban 27%.Annual growth rate: 2.1%.Density: 271/sq. km.Ethnic Groups: Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid 2%, others. Religions: Hindu 82%, Muslim 12%, Christian 2.5%, Sikh 2%, other groups including Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, etc. 1.5%.Languages: Hindi, English, and 14 other official languages.Education: Years compulsory--9 (to age ... [Read More]
Background Notes Archive - East Asia and the Pacific
U.S. Department of StateBackground Notes: India, September 1998Official Name: Republic of IndiaPROFILE Geography Area: 3.3 million sq. km. (1.3 million sq. mi.); about 1/3 the size of the U.S.Cities: Capital--New Delhi (pop. 9 million). Other major cities--Mumbai, formerly Bombay (13 million); Calcutta (12 million); Chennai, formerly Madras (6 million); Bangalore (5 million); Hyderabad (3.5 million); Ahmedabad (3.6 million). Terrain: Varies from Himalayas to flat river valleys.Climate: Temperate to subtropical monsoon. People Nationality: Noun and adjective--Indian(s).Population (1997 est.): 952 million; urban 27%.Annual growth rate: 1.8%.Density: 271/sq. km.Ethnic groups: Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid 2%, others. Religions: Hindu 82%, Muslim 12%, Christian 2.5%, Sikh 2%, other groups including Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, etc. 1.5%.Languages: Hindi, English, and 14 other official languages. Education: Years compulsory--9 (to age 14). Literacy--48%. Health: Infant m ... [Read More]
Immigrant visas
authorized to perform the ministerial or priestly functions of a religious denomination having a bona fide organization within the United States and is stationed abroad pursuant to that calling; or ... After the applicant has informed the Embassy that he/she has collected all the listed documents, a date for the formal interview will be assigned, as soon as possible. The applicant must wait to be notified of this date, without calling nor writing to the Consular Section, except to report an address change or a change in the family status, such as a marriage, a birth, or the death of the petitioner. ... [Read More]
International Religious Freedom Report 2002: Burma
Religious affiliation sometimes is indicated on government issued identification cards that citizens and permanent residents of the country are required to carry at all times. There appear to be no consistent criteria governing whether religion is indicated on an identification card. Citizens also are required to indicate their religions on some official application forms, such as, on passports (which have a separate "field" for religion, as well as ethnicity). ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
Protocol is relaxed and no formal calls are required. However, there is ample opportunity for both U.S. Mission employees with representational duties and spouses to use calling cards or business cards. Diplomats may want to take an initial supply of calling cards until cards can be printed here. Employees will find calling cards useful for exchange with Indians, members of other missions, and businesspersons. Locally available printed or engraved cards and invitations are less expensive than in the U.S. ... [Read More]
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