NETHERLANDS/EU/BANGLADESH: DETERIORATING INTERNAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 002582 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR AND SA E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/07/2014 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PINS ECON BG NL SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/EU/BANGLADESH: DETERIORATING INTERNAL SITUATION REF: STATE 213215 Classified By: POL Counselor Andrew Schofer for reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) Summary: The Dutch share U.S. concerns regarding the deteriorating domestic situation in Bangladesh. In their capacity as EU President, the Dutch are organizing a "brainstorming session" on October 21 to develop a common EU approach to the situation. End Summary. "Bleak" Situation -------------- ¶2. (C) Poloff discussed reftel message October 7 with Wilfred Mohr, Head of MFA's South Asia Division. Mohr said he concurred with the U.S. analysis of the deteriorating situation in Bangladesh, calling the situation "bleak" and increasingly "on the radar screen." Mohr noted that the Bangladeshi parliament is "not functioning" since opposition parties do not show up for debates, and that "nobody sees an exit" from the political violence between the opposing party leaders' families. He added that Shell had recently scaled down its operations in Bangladesh because of the deteriorating political environment. Mohr identified the unclear role Bangladesh plays in border skirmishes in India, pockets of extremist fundamentalism, and the need for monitoring of development cooperation and governance as additional issues of concern. EU Follow-Up -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Mohr said that within the EU, the Dutch have organized an internal working-level "brainstorming session" to be held on October 21 in Brussels which will attempt to find a common EU analysis of the political, economic and development situation and to identify joint initiatives that could be taken to tackle related concerns. Mohr also pointed out that Bangladesh will be an agenda item for discussion at the October 18 COASI consultations with the U.S., in which he will participate. ¶4. (C) Mohr found reftel suggested points for use in discussions with Bangladeshis useful, and said that nearly identical points had already been used by EU interlocutors. Mohr identified in particular that the EU had carried out a joint demarche on the Government of Bangladesh pressing the government to investigate recent political crimes. SOBEL