DETAINED BANGLADESHI JOURNALIST RELEASED ON BAIL

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 002071 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2010 TAGS: PREL PHUM IS BG SUBJECT: DETAINED BANGLADESHI JOURNALIST RELEASED ON BAIL REF: A. DHAKA 1827 ¶B. DHAKA 1866 Classified By: P/E Counselor D.C. McCullough, reason para 1.4 b. ¶1. (SBU) On May 2, Bangladeshi journalist Showaib Chowdhury called us to confirm that he had been released on bail and to express appreciation for the Embassy's appeal to BDG officials to accord him full due process. Four persons, including his two attorneys, provided the taka 100,000 bail (about USD 1600) for his bail, which is due to expire on May ¶25. ¶2. (SBU) According to Chowdhury, he developed hypertension in jail and, when he was released on April 30, his blood pressure was 80/150. He said he also suffers from glaucoma. ¶3. (SBU) Chowdhury predicted that, since he has received interim bail, the BDG may drop its case against him. He also hopes to recover the USD 3,000 police seized from him at the airport when he was arrested. Chowdhury is staying with family in a Dhaka residential neighborhood. ¶4. (C) Comment: Ambassador raised Chowdhury's detention several times at senior levels of the BDG (refs). On May 2, Foreign Policy Adviser (and de facto foreign minister) Reaz Rahman remarked to Charge that he hoped the USG appreciates Chowdhury's release. CHAMMAS