AUGUST 17 BOMBING INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

S E C R E T DHAKA 004207

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SA AND DS/IP AND DS/ITA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2015
TAGS: PGOV PTER CASC BG
SUBJECT: AUGUST 17 BOMBING INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

REF: A. A. DHAKA 4089

B. B. DHAKA 4108

Classified By: A/Pol Counselor David Renz, reasons para 1.4(d)


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Bangladesh Government continues its
investigations to determine the masterminds behind the August
17 bombings. The arrest of a former Islamic Foundation
director has created significant publicity. The PM and BNP
General Secretary assure the public that the BDG is doing all
that it can and promise a conclusive police report on last
year's August 21 grenade attacks against Sheik Hasina in a
few days. END SUMMARY


2. (S) As investigations and arrests surrounding the 503
bombs that injured 191 and killed two on August 17 (reftel A
and B) continue, Home Minister Babar has directed law
enforcement officials to capture JMB leader Abdur Rahman "at
any cost," according to press reports. Local media report
that "so far, all the arrested JMB men have given identical
confessions saying that Abdur Rahman had orchestrated the
attacks." Our Directorate General of Forces Intelligence
sources tell us that at least four of the arrested have
confessed their affiliation to JMB but did not state any
specific mentioning of Rahman.


3. (C) PM Zia reportedly gave law enforcers 15 days to hunt
down the criminals and unearth any foreign links as she
personally supervises investigations. On August 23, Home
Secretary Hossain told poloff that capturing the masterminds

SIPDIS
behind the August 17 bombing was "very difficult" and that he
was not necessarily confident that the BDG could identify and
arrest them. A National Security Intelligence (NSI) source
says that neither Abdur Rahman nor Bangla Bhai may currently
be in Bangladesh.


4. (SBU) On August 22, the BDG arrested former director of
the Islamic Foundation, a semi-government entity, Moulana
Fariduddin Masud as he was boarding a flight bound for London
on suspicion of links to an Islamist militant network. Law
enforcement agencies claim he has a connection to the August
17 blasts as a central leader of the JMB while newspapers
report that he is an Islamic scholar who controls an NGO, a
hospital, and some madrassahs, each of which reportedly
received substantial funds from the UK and the Middle East.
In response to his arrest, Masud has accused Jamaat-e-Islami
(JI) Ameer (leader) and Minister of Industries Nizami as
"responsible for the bombings and plotting to have me
arrested." The Awami League (AL) refuted press reports about
Masud's link to AL's Islamic scholar front.


5. (SBU) On August 22, PM Zia reassured various ready-made
garment industry leaders that "there is no scope for
practicing extremism in the name of Islam," and that the
perpetrators of the bombings would be identified and "dealt
with a strong hand," according to press reports. Ready-made
garment industry leaders paid a visit to the PM because
prospective foreign buyers have canceled recent visits in
response to the bombings and they are worried that buyers
would shift their attention to other markets if the situation
does not improve. According to press reports, business
leaders have plans to arrange a dialogue between PM Zia and
Opposition leader Sheik Hasina to discuss solutions and
cooperation in the August 17 aftermath. The general manager
of a major local hotel, however, told econoff that bookings
were back to normal within days after August 17.


6. (SBU) In a BNP organized protest rally against the August
17 bombings, Secretary General Bhuiyan promised that the
investigation into the August 21, 2004, grenade attacks on
Awami League leaders was in its final stages and that a
formal charge sheet (conclusive police report after
investigation) would be submitted within a few days.


7. (C) COMMENT: Masud's accusations against Nizami following
Masud's arrest comes in the context of long-standing enmity
between AL aligned Masud and the BNP-JI alliance. In
Bangladesh's polarized political climate, it is not unlikely
for the ruling party to use the August 17 bombings to hash
out existing political rivalries. AL's denial of links to
Masud suggest, however, that the AL believes he might be a
viable suspect. END COMMENT.
CHAMMAS