BHUIYAN ASSURES AMBASSADOR OF BDG COOPERATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 001866

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2015
TAGS: PGOV PHUM BG BG
SUBJECT: BHUIYAN ASSURES AMBASSADOR OF BDG COOPERATION


Classified By: P/E Counselor D.C. McCullough, reasons 1.4 b, d.


1. (SBU) On April 20, Ambassador Thomas met with Minister of
Local Government and BNP General Secretary Mannan Bhuiyan to
reiterate USG concerns about protection for Ahmadiyas,
extra-judicial killings and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB),
political violence, the importance of the BDG's joining the
UN Terrorist Financing Convention, due process for imprisoned
journalist Shoaib Salah Uddin Chowdhury, and to express
satisfaction with the good level of cooperation between the
BDG and USG in the last few months.


2. (C) Bhuiyan affirmed that America is "dear friend" to
Bangladesh especially in the joint fight against terrorism.
He assured the Ambassador that the BDG will not allow
terrorists to work in Bangladesh, and that "the basis of the
BNP is anti-terrorist."


3. (C) Bhuiyan downplayed the strength and significance of
Jamaat-e-Islaami (JI) and Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ) in the
ruling party coalition and national politics, and said he
told other BNP leaders that "we don't need the help of
religious parties." He went on to say that the BNP is very
conscious of JI and IOJ's agenda and that they will not allow
them to control Bangladesh.


4. (C) Bhuiyan reaffirmed the BDG's commitment to protecting
the Ahmadiyas against attacks, promising that the BDG "will
not let anything happen to them" and invoking the
government's duty to protect its citizens. He also cited the
Bangladesh constitutional guarantees for equal rights and
freedom of religion.


5. (C) Bhuiyan emphasized that the BDG takes political
killings seriously, and cited the recent conviction of Nurul
Islam Sarker, a BNP leader, in the Ahsanullah MP murder case.
"Our own leader wasn't spared in the name of justice." He
expressed his own shock and dismay with the Kibria killing,
saying Kibria was a respected person and that the BDG remains
very open and willing to provide the FBI any facility it
needs to assist in the investigation.


6. (C) Acknowledging that the police are "very weak" Bhuiyan
expressed appreciation for USG police training to increase
police capacity and said he hopes to maintain the good
relationship between the BDG and USG.
THOMAS