CDA CALLS ON MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 003731

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID ASEC PTER BG
SUBJECT: CDA CALLS ON MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND
RURAL DEVELOPMENT

REF: DHAKA 3603

Classified By: CDA JUDITH CHAMMAS, Reason(s): 1.4 (d)


1. (C) Summary: CDA called on Minister for Local Government,
Rural Development and Cooperatives and Secretary General of
the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Abdul Mannan Bhuyian.
He expressed confidence in the strength of the BNP four-party
coalition, and stated that the recent IOJ by-election victory
was due to BNP voter support, and that the BNP is open to
discussion on election reform but less open on reforms to the
caretaker system. End Summary.


2. (SBU) On July 27, Charge D'Affaires called on Minister for
Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives Abdul
Mannan Bhuyian with poloff (notetaker). Bhuyian's Personal
Secretary, Waliul Islam, was also present at the 45-minute

SIPDIS
meeting. Bhuyian is Secretary General of the BNP and his
ministry is responsible for local government services and
agencies, including roads, water, sanitation, and electricity
for all municipalities and local councils in rural areas. He
is also charged with rural development projects focused on
poverty alleviation.


3. (C) CDA stated that the USG is committed to improved
relations and continued cooperation with Bangladesh. Bhuyian
responded that Bangladesh is always ready to work with the
US, and noted that our "peacekeepers are always sent when
asked." As for extremists, Bhuyian said that if "we catch
them, we will punish them."


4. (C) When asked about the Islami Oikko Jote (IOJ) victory
(reftel) in the July 20 by-election in Sunamganj, Bhuyian
stated that they won because "our people voted for him." Both
Jammaat Islami and IOJ will continue to be part of the BNP
led coalition, but he predicted they will get no more than
four to five seats in the future. "We (the BNP) don't need
their help, but others said we need them to be more secure"
and so sought their help. AL has 37 percent of the vote and
BNP has 37 percent but, although I am "personally against"
the coalition with the religious groups, we now have a
comfort margin, he told CDA.


5. (C) In response to questions about AL election reform
proposals, Bhuyian responded that they have included many
actions that are already covered by existing law and
therefore unneeded. Some of their proposals can be discussed
but some are simply not possible, like the consensus of all
of the political parties for appointing the chief caretaker
adviser. "We have hundreds of parties," plus relations
between the two major parties are so bad that "if we propose
something, the AL would say no, and if they propose
something, we would say no." He emphasized that it was the
Election Commission that needed to be strengthened and not
the caretaker government.


6. (C) Bhuyian was open to discussion with the AL, saying
that "we will discuss this in parliament as well as outside
of parliament." In response to a question as to which party
will reach out first, he responded, "I'm not designated but I
can discuss issues with them as General Secretary." He added
that while BNP can discuss strengthening the Election
Commission, the AL wants the army in the hands of the
caretaker government and not the President. That would be
wrong as "he is the only one in the government who is an
elected official."
CHAMMAS