CHARGE AND FOREIGN SECRETARY DISCUSS TRAFFICKED

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 003709 SIPDIS G/TIP, INL/CTR E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2015 TAGS: PHUM KCRM BG SUBJECT: CHARGE AND FOREIGN SECRETARY DISCUSS TRAFFICKED CAMEL JOCKEY REPATRIATION EFFORTS Classified By: A/DCM D.C. McCullough for reason para 1.4 (d) ¶1. (SBU) During a July 28 meeting with Foreign Secretary Hemayetuddin, Charge raised USG concerns over reports that the Bangladeshi Embassy in the UAE is delaying the repatriation of rescued Bangladeshi camel jockey trafficking victims. ¶2. (C) Hemayetuddin replied that the repatriations are a great concern for the BDG, and that he has spoken with their Ambassador on the matter. He claimed the Ministry of Home Affairs is slowing down the repatriation process since they are responsible for determining the nationality of the boys. He undertook to raise the issue again with his Ambassador. ¶3. (C) Salma Ali, a prominent local anti-TIP activist involved in repatriation, confirmed to poloff that the Bangladesh Embassy is slowing down repatriations. She said batches of Pakistani and Sudanese boys are returning from the UAE but not Bangladeshis. She also cited problems with nationality verification as the cause. Moreover, "The Labor Attache is not a Ministry of Foreign Affairs employee but a typical BNP (political) type who is not intelligent," she alleged. Ali says some Bangladeshi boys, however, are scheduled to return later this week, and that she plans to follow up personally with the Bangladeshi Ambassador. CHAMMAS