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