TARIQUE RAHMAN ON COUNTRY WIDE LISTENING TOUR

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 001131

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/13/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV BG
SUBJECT: TARIQUE RAHMAN ON COUNTRY WIDE LISTENING TOUR


Classified By: P/E Counselor D.C. McCullough, Reason(s): 1.4 (b),(d)


1. (SBU) Since the beginning of January, BNP Senior Joint
Secretary Tarique Rahman has been conducting a country wide

SIPDIS
grass roots "listening" tour. At each subdistrict, he hosts
political rallies with local leaders and party members. His
agenda is full of stock BNP messages such as warnings against
those who resort to "anarchic politics, conspiracy and
hartal." When he opens the floor to questions, he addresses
local concerns. At a February rally in Chittagong, according
to media reports, he urged leaders to highlight the successes
of the BNP government, calling upon party leaders to inform
the people about government subsidies for farmers, allowances
for elderly people, stipends for female students, and making
the country free from plastic bags.


2. (SBU) Visiting subdistricts that have been dominated by
the Awami League since independence, sources report that
Tarique uses voter statistics and polling to determine the
important local issues at each location. At each stop,
Tarique,s staff hand out BNP folders that contain an
audiocassette with speeches by his father, the late President
Zia Rahman, press talking points for local leaders, the BNP
party strategy, a response paper to the 21 August grenade
attack on the Awami League rally, and a government statistic
sheet to show what the BNP has done for the people. His
plainclothes security detail encourages people to come up and
talk to Tarique.


3. (SBU) Initial negative press reporting and senior BNP
leader grumbling about Tarique's "grandstanding" have all but
died out, according to sources. After each event, Tarique
returns to Dhaka for a day or two to handle central party
matters. During this time, he personally signs response
letters to the attendees at the various rallies. These
response letters contain regionally specific issues and
discussion on how to address them. By the first week of
April, he will have, he says signed 18,000 letters.


4. (C) Tarique told poloff that he will complete his tour by
the end of March and then stay in Dhaka during April before
beginning a May follow up campaign in a more targeted manner.


5. (C) Comment: Tarique,s listening tour represents his
political "coming out" party and coincides with his growing
public profile in recent months. Whether he can succeed in
capturing the BNP grassroots or expanding his popular
standing remains to be seen. End Comment.
THOMAS