Report Contents
What OIG Inspected
OIG inspected the executive direction, policy and program implementation, resource management, and information management operations of Embassy Dhaka.
What OIG Recommends
OIG made 26 recommendations to Embassy Dhaka.
In its comments on the draft report, Embassy Dhaka concurred with 25 recommendations and neither agreed nor disagreed with 1 recommendation. OIG considers all 26 recommendations resolved. The embassy’s response to each recommendation, and OIG’s reply, can be found in the Recommendations section of this report. The embassy’s formal written response is reprinted in its entirety in Appendix B.
What OIG Found
- The Ambassador and the Deputy Chief of Mission led Embassy Dhaka in a collaborative and professional manner. Staff described both leaders as energetic and approachable.
- The embassy had difficulty filling mid-level positions after the withdrawal of minor dependents following a 2016 terrorist attack. Many managerial positions had long staffing gaps that exacerbated workload pressures on the remaining staff.
- The Ambassador’s active outreach efforts advanced efforts to build political capital and goodwill. However, particularly given the staffing shortages throughout the embassy, the Ambassador contributed to the workload stress of embassy staff by not prioritizing demands he placed on employees to support these efforts.
- The Ambassador engaged extensively with Bangladeshi Government officials and led efforts by the international community to assist 900,000 Rohingya refugees who had fled Burma.
- Consular Section staff routinely worked long hours in an effort to manage a growing backlog of immigrant visa work.
- The embassy’s social media program did not comply with Department of State standards.
- The network cabling infrastructure in Embassy Dhaka’s unclassified server and telephone frame rooms was antiquated and did not comply with Department standards.
- Spotlights on Success: The Information Management Office created a tracking system for employee checks of the emergency and evacuation radio network that increased participation rates dramatically. In addition, the office created a travel request application that saved time for travelers and travel managers.
Report Terms
Report Recommendations
Embassy Dhaka should comply with Department requirements for Federal assistance awards managed by the Political-Economic Section.
Embassy Dhaka should implement a training plan for the Public Diplomacy Section in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Dhaka should bring its social media program into compliance with Department standards.
Embassy Dhaka should resume issuing an Annual Program Statement for its Public Diplomacy grants program.
Embassy Dhaka should cease having locally employed staff answer routine visa inquires and direct such inquiries to the vendor contracted by the Bureau of Consular Affairs.
Embassy Dhaka should implement formal training plans for Consular Section officers in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Dhaka should implement a cross-training program for Consular Section locally employed staff, in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Dhaka should create consular crisis preparedness plans in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Dhaka should install a closed-circuit television monitoring system or other means to enable consular managers to visually observe the activities within the Consular Section cashier booth.
Embassy Dhaka should correct line-of-sight issues in the Consular Section to comply with Department guidance for consular officers to visually monitor all consular operations.
Embassy Dhaka should comply with all Department Overseas Motor Vehicle Safety standards for chauffeurs and incidental drivers under chief of mission authority.
Embassy Dhaka should prohibit locally employed staff mechanics from servicing personally owned vehicles on U.S. Government property or with U.S. Government equipment, in accordance with Federal regulations.
Embassy Dhaka should document all nonexpendable property disposals in the Integrated Logistics Management System, in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Dhaka should dismantle and remove its shipping containers and portable structures in accordance with Department requirements.
Embassy Dhaka should close out procurement files in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Dhaka should submit all hotel and restaurant reports to the Bureau of Administration in accordance with Department guidelines.
Embassy Dhaka, in coordination with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, should conduct a technical review of the design plans for the two structures used as warehouses on the embassy annex compound and submit the survey for approval, in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Dhaka, in coordination with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, should complete all elevator repairs needed to obtain a current certificate of use for each elevator, in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Dhaka should bring its residential fire protection program into compliance with Department standards.
Embassy Dhaka should submit its hardship differential survey in accordance with Department guidelines.
Embassy Dhaka should manage the American Embassy Employees Association in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Dhaka should require that the Information Systems Security Officer perform information systems security duties in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Dhaka, in coordination with the Regional Information Management Center Bangkok and the Bureau of Information Resource Management, should correct the embassy’s network cabling infrastructure, in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Dhaka should comply with Department standards for records management.
Embassy Dhaka should complete annual tests of the information technology contingency plans for the unclassified and classified networks in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy Dhaka should conduct initial and annual refresher information technology contingency training for employees with information technology contingency planning responsibilities, in accordance with Department standards.