The Royale Entourage
Bureaucracy and extremely polarized administrative system at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are set to waste at least US$ 2 million from the national exchequer of the country during the upcoming US trip of the Bangladeshi Prime Minister, who is scheduled to arrive in New York City of September 18, 2011.
It is learnt that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will arrive in United States to attend sessions of the United Nations. Prior to this visit, a 10-member "advance team" led by an army officer of Brigadier General rank will arrive in New York City on September 8, 2011, while for the first time, another 10-member "advance team" will also arrive from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs itself. Only for this so-called advance team from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at least US$ 100,000 will be wasted from the national exchequer. Though there is no such culture of sending "advance team" from the ministry of foreign affairs by any of the developing countries, Bangladesh's current government has unnecessarily initiated sending of such team, which will cost nothing but tremendous wastage of public money. It may also be mentioned here that, none of the developed countries send any "advance team" led by any military official. This particular culture of sending advance team prior to the visit of the head of the government was introduced by the governments after the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be arriving in New York City on September 18, 2011, who will be leading a huge entourage comprising 35 people from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister's office. Additionally, sister, son and daughter of the Bangladeshi Prime Minister will be included in the team, along with her nephew, niece and grand children. Only the total number of members of Prime Minister's family in the entourage will be 19. During this trip, Sheikh Hasina will be celebrating her 64th birthday on September 28, 2011 at Waldorf Astoria Hotel, which is located at Park Avenue. Minimum rent for the suites at Waldorf Astoria Hotel is US$ 719 per night, while room rents are minimum US$ 319 per night. During the visit of the Bangladeshi Prime Minister, total number of 25 rooms will be booked at this hotel along with a number of suites to house her family members. Additionally, the ball room of the hotel will be hired for the celebration of the birthday of the Bangladeshi Prime Minister. Total cost of accommodation and food at Waldorf Astoria Hotel for the entire entourage of the Bangladeshi Prime Minister will cross US$ 300,000.
The expatriate Bangladeshis in United States, who are members or supporters of the ruling party, will organize a reception for the Prime Minister at Hilton Hotel on September 25, 2011. Bangladeshi Prime Minister, who also is the president of ruling Bangladesh Awami League, is expected to give instructions to her party activists in United States to join an organization formed under the US laws. It may be mentioned here that, operation of branch of any foreign political party is not permitted under the existing laws of United States. Bangladesh Awami League has taken up the initiatives of forming an organization to avoid legal consequences of continuing the operation of foreign branch of the Bangladeshi political party.
Keeping eyes on the upcoming US visit of the Bangladeshi Prime Minister, the New York and Washington offices of Bangladesh missions are actively pursuing to contact major media outlets in United States with the goal of getting interviews of Sheikh Hasina published in local newspapers or aired in local TV channels. Moreover, the Bangladesh embassy in Washington is trying to hire some local columnists for writing favorable articles or opinion editorials.
It is already indicated that, Sheikh Hasina will be interviewed by Voice of America's Bangla service during this trip. Additionally, Bangladesh embassy is trying to get Fox News, CNN and other major television networks in United States for interviewing the Bangladeshi PM. Sheikh Hasina also is planning to host a small party for the members of media in New York City, which also is aimed at drawing attention of the media towards Bangladeshi Prime Minister.
Commenting on the upcoming visit of the Bangladeshi Prime Minister, a source within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on condition of anonymity told Weekly Blitz, "This looks like the entourage of any Arab royals. She represents a poor and developing country, and has no right of wasting huge amount of public money is celebrating her birthday abroad as well offering luxury to the members of her entire entourage as well as members of her own family. This is exorbitant wastage of public money. Only autocratic rulers or monarchs can afford to do this."
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