Iowa, the birthplace of Fr. Bob, is one state, out of two, in the United States that has the same surface area of Bangladesh, 55,000 sq miles. In Bangladesh, there are an estimated 156 million people; in the 55,000 sq miles of Iowa, there are only 3 million people. In other words, in Iowa one person lives in the same land area that in Bangladesh is inhabited by 52. Fr. Bob uses this statistics to tell people about the richness of their country, when they complain about its poverty. He tells them: “This country is not poor, this country is extremely rich. How else could a place like this support 156 million people? It couldn’t. This is the richest soil in the world. It is very fertile. If one throws a seed out of the window, it will grow.”
As far as bureaucracy is concerned, the country doesn’t seem interested in promoting tourism. An application for a tourist visa in the Philippines should be accompanied by the following supporting documents: Notarized original request letter from the sponsor addressed to the Embassy; copy of the sponsor’s passport, valid visa, work permit and work contract; itinerary, bank certificate, hotel booking, employment certificate with leave given, or application letter of the applicant addressed to the Embassy (if unemployed). One wonders which genuine tourist on earth is ready to gather all these documents to visit Bangladesh. The requirement of a local sponsor is particularly bizarre to a foreigner’s eyes!
The alternative of getting a visa upon arrival is easier, even though more expensive. Besides the US$50 that the visa costs, one has to pay a good tip to the immigration officials who are there very ready and willing to help, especially to tourists with Caucasian features. They speed up the procedures and lobby openly their immigration colleagues so that their “sponsored” tourists overtake all others applying for a visa at the immigration desk. After bargaining for a substantial tip, they ask, looking straight at the tourist’s eyes: “Are you satisfied?” Upon the supposedly affirmative answer, they continue: “We are satisfied too. You got the visa pretty fast. Know that it can take up to two hours. We made you overtake all those in the queue.” If the tourist doesn’t seem much convinced, they will likely insist until they get a clear answer: “Are you happy?” If they hear a compliment of the kind “You are very efficient and kind,” to dismiss them because the luggage belt has already stopped, they will conclude: “Good! You got a good service.”
The impression a visitor gets from the start is that Bangladeshis are good actors, genuinely interested in other people’s lives and very welcoming.
