As a nation we remain inordinately pleased when we are spoken well of by those outside the country. The latest example of this is the hosannas that have been heaped upon International Herald Tribune columnist Philip Bowring for a few kind words penned about Bangladesh following his recent visit here to gauge the country's political and economic well-being. In situations such as these, we are quick to point to outside opinion as validation.

However, whenever the assessment from outside is in the least bit critical, the opposite is true. We refuse to countenance or give credence to the criticism, and deny it out of hand, even going so far as to suggest that there is some conspiracy against the country in the international media or among foreign governments.

It is our observation that Washington has been notably even-handed in its treatment of Bangladesh in recent years. Successive US ambassadors have been forthright in their support for the country, and at the recent World Bank sponsored meeting it was reportedly the US that acted as the moderating voice in our favour. This is the backdrop to Ms. Rocca's visit.

It thus behooves us to listen when the US has criticisms to make, not because it is a superpower, but because it has proved its friendship in recent times, and we have no cause to doubt that the US will be attentive to our best interests of which gaining quota-free access to US market is a prime one. In addition, if we wish to receive benefits from the US, and we do, then we have to at least pay them the courtesy of addressing their legitimate concerns.

Let us approach this official visit with an open and accepting mind. Ms. Rocca is not unknown to us as she graced us with her presence here before and we should not view critical words from her as though they came from an adversary. If we are over-sensitive to criticism or move into knee-jerk denial mode, then the visit will accomplish nothing.