The Foreign Service Journal, September 2016

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2016 79 AFSA NEWS USAID Honors Fallen Colleagues at Memorial Event On June 8, USAID Admin- istrator Gayle E. Smith led a ceremony to honor the memory of fallen colleague Xulhaz Mannan, a locally employed (LE) staff member with USAID’s Democracy and Governance Office in Dhaka and a human rights activist. Mr. Mannan was killed on April 25 in his Dhaka apartment. At the same event, Admin- istrator Smith unveiled a new memorial plaque honoring fallen colleagues from USAID implementing partners. The family of Anita Datar, who was killed in the 2015 hotel siege in Bamako, was in attendance for the unveiling. USAID Deputy Administra- tor Ambassador Alfonso Len- hardt opened the ceremony, welcoming Mr. Mannan’s fam- ily—who had traveled from Bangladesh for the event— and Ms. Datar’s family, among other honored guests. Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Heather Hig- ginbottom, AFSA President Ambassador Barbara Ste- phenson, AFSA USAID Vice President SharonWayne and the U.S. ambassador to Mali also attended the ceremony. Xulhaz Mannan’s brother, Minhaz Mannan Emon, told the gathering “[Xulhaz] wanted to speak for those whose souls are caged.” He urged USAID to continue the work they have been doing in Bangladesh, and encour- aged the LGBT community to continue to speak out. “In a country where sex and sexuality are taboo, work for love,” he said, referring to his brother’s magazine Roopbaan (named for a Bengali folk representation of love). Placing a tile bearing Xul- haz’ name on the memorial wall, Mr. Mannan Emon said that his brother “is still alive in the rivers and green fields of Bangladesh, and here on the walls of USAID.” Representing all LE staff at USAID Mission Bangladesh, Muhammad Moinuddin, a colleague of Mr. Mannan’s, thanked the agency for hon- oring his best friend. Mr. Moi- nuddin had been impressed, he said, by his friend’s energy, enthusiasm and ability to stand up for his beliefs. In her remarks, Admin- istrator Smith recalled her recent trip to Bangladesh to visit the Mannan family, thanking them for welcoming her in the wake of such a tragedy. She also announced that the USAID Mission Diversity Award would be renamed in Xulhaz’ honor. She then turned to the family of Anita Datar, the only American vic- tim of an attack on the Radis- son Hotel in Bamako last year. Ms. Datar worked there for Palladium, an international development firm working with USAID in Mali. Announcing the formation, in partnership with Palla- dium, of a legacy fellowship program in honor of Ms. Datar, Administrator Smith described her as “one of us, and the best of us.” She spoke particularly to Ms. Datar’s young son, Rohan, who was present at the unveiling of the memorial plaque. Dedicated to those who have died while working with USAID, the plaque features a quote from George Marshall, winner of the 1953 Nobel Peace Prize: “I have done my best, and I hope I have sown some seeds which may bring forth good fruit.” n —Gemma Dvorak, Associate Editor USAID Administrator Gayle Smith speaks at a ceremony to honor Xulhaz Mannan and Anita Datar. Unveiled at the memorial ceremony, a plaque honoring fallen colleagues from USAID’s implementing partners. USAID/ELLISSAVANHOUTTE USAID/ELLISSAVANHOUTTE