Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05DHAKA517
2005-02-05 13:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Dhaka
Cable title:  

BANGLADESH: 2003/2004 END USE MONITORING REPORT

Tags:  ECON SNAR AFIN BG 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS DHAKA 000517 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON SNAR AFIN BG
SUBJECT: BANGLADESH: 2003/2004 END USE MONITORING REPORT

REF: STATE 17655

UNCLAS DHAKA 000517

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON SNAR AFIN BG
SUBJECT: BANGLADESH: 2003/2004 END USE MONITORING REPORT

REF: STATE 17655


1. In response to reftel, American Embassy Dhaka is pleased
to provide the following information regarding end use of
INL-provided assistance in Bangladesh.


2. Procedures: Forensics Advisor Howard Dobres visited the
testing laboratory operated by the Department of Narcotics
Control (DNC) in Dhaka, examined the equipment, and
questioned laboratory personnel on the use of each piece of
equipment. The DNC lab technicians were cooperative and
helpful but the Lab Director was inattentive and seemed
irritated by the visit.


3. Status: In July 2000, post turned over to the DNC an
analytical balance, top-loading balance, and polarizing
microscope for use in their newly constructed narcotics
testing laboratory. The Bangladesh courts have accepted the
lab's results as bona fide evidence in narcotics cases. All
items provided by ICITAP are generally kept clean, in good
working order, and stored within a secure building and
compound. Machinery that is understood by the lab chemists
is being used for its intended purpose. However, some
equipment is outside the chemists' technical training and so
stands unused. During our meetings with the lab staff and
the Director General (DG) of the DNC, alternatives for
training on the equipment were discussed which included using
local professors from the University of Dhaka to help train
DNC staff on proper usage of certain lab equipment. This
would be in lieu of additional training provided by ICITAP's
Forensic Advisor on his trips to Bangladesh approximately
every four months.


4. Problems: The DG of the DNC appears to be energetic and
proactive, but his department, including the laboratory
facilities, suffers from severe budgetary constraints. As of
the December visit by Howard Dobres, lab chemists had not
been paid for six months. Aside from the equipment provided
in 2000, there is little more that the chemists have to work
with. The lab itself is very poorly cleaned and maintained
and lacks temperature control, refrigeration facilities, and
proper ventilation, including in the rooms where the
ICITAP-provided equipment is stored. Basic items such as
voltage stabilizers and Uninterrupted Power Supplies (UPS) do
not exist. The absence of these items places equipment at
undue risk of electrical damage or failure. In addition,
field communications, field testing, and sophisticated
narcotics analysis capacity are seriously lacking.


5. Impact: Samples referred to the drug lab continued to
increase in 2004. The support thus far provided by ICITAP,
while useful, has not had a significant impact on improving
the quality of the lab's work or its efficiency. It appears
that this is largely due to the extent of the problems at the
lab and the lack of ability of the lab technicians to use the
more sophisticated analysis equipment. These factors make
assistance provided at the current level inconsequential.
Simple changes would improve the situation, but they must
come from the DNC or elsewhere in the Government of
Bangladesh (BDG).


6. Program Changes: To help address these challenges, a
Letter of Agreement (LOA) on Narcotics Control and Law
Enforcement was signed in 2002 between the USG and the BDG to
provide equipment and training. An ICITAP team visited the
DNC's drug lab in June 2003 to evaluate needs and provide
recommendations. In addition, an amendment to the original
LOA (April 2004),which will provide USDOJ/ICITAP training to
address police professionalism, internal corruption, and
forensic investigations, is underway with the Bangladesh
National Police. The USDOJ/ICITAP Program Manager is
currently conducting the training associated with the LOA and
thus far has trained approximately 220 Bangladesh Police
Officers in related courses. The DG of the DNC, recently
informed of the state of affairs at the testing lab, has
stated his intention to check more regularly on the
operations of the laboratory and to see that staff are paid.
THOMAS