AHMADIYA MOSQUES BOMBED

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 003022 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2015 TAGS: PHUM PREL BG BG SUBJECT: AHMADIYA MOSQUES BOMBED Classified By: A/DCM D.C. McCullough for reason para 1.5d ¶1. (SBU) On June 24, two persons were injured after several crude "bombs" exploded at an Ahmadiya mosque in Brahmanbaria, eastern Bangladesh, according to press reports and Ahmadiya community contacts. Also that day, four bombs went off at an Ahmadiya mosque in Bhadugarh in the Brahmanbaria area. On June 22, an Ahmadiya mosque in Nator was set on fire. Police have announced the arrest of eight persons in connection with the attacks. ¶2. (SBU) Ahmad Tabshir, a member of the Ahmadiya Muslim Jamaat National Executive Committee, told poloff that police protection was adequate and active once police were notified of the attacks. He noted that local leaders of the BDG and the police visited the sites of the attacks and assured Ahmadiyas protection. ¶3. (C) Comment: Foreign Minister Khan and Foreign Secretary Hemayetuddin assured U/S Burns on June 26 that the BDG is committed to protecting Ahmadiyas (septel). Hemayetuddin described the attacks as a "purposeful move by a few to ridicule and embarrass the government," and suggested the last attack was timed to coincide with U/S Burns's arrival in Bangladesh. THOMAS