h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

One of the problems with missions abroad these days is the tight time frames we operate in. Last year I went to Nigeria. I was due to go for 2 weeks to address an issue relating to corruption at the heart of government. In order to get a visa for Nigeria one must be invited by the Nigerian government. As I had been invited by the Nigerian government this seemed as if it would be a formality. This did not turn out to be the case and I ended up going to Nigeria for 5 days- one of which was a Friday when people return home to their villages and are not available for work. These cultural differences can impact greatly on a work schedule. I had only 4 days to address corruption in Nigeria. Important work was done and a lot was achieved however I don’t feel the issue was fully resolved.
This year my colleague in Bangladesh experienced similar problems. She had a week to infiltrate the ministry of finance and meet her various objectives. The first three days however were hartal days. A hartal day is like a strike day and so she was confined to the hotel, unable to do anything.
The hartal days are occurring for reasons steeped in recent political history. Bangladesh used to be East Pakistan (formerly part of Muslim Pakistan although with no shared borders). In 1971 they fought a bitter war for independence which they won becoming a secular state. Earlier this year two men were tried for war crimes that had occurred during that period, they were tried in absentia for the murder of pro-Bangladesh intellectuals who are seen as sacrificing their lives for a secular state. Since the trial violent protests have led to the death of 100 people.
Whilst this does not directly affect our mission, we are not involved in the repatriation of these US and UK citizens it could significantly impact on our ability to meet our goals.

[Amy P]

I think your cover is slipping, you are clearly working for the public sector. Problems like this only seem to occur in the public sector. The private sector is a haven of efficiency, milk and honey.

'100 people died'

Must be the public sector..