PM ZIA PROMISES FULL SUPPORT FOR "FBI" ASSISTANCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 000554

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV KCRM BG BG
SUBJECT: PM ZIA PROMISES FULL SUPPORT FOR "FBI" ASSISTANCE

REF: STATE 20642

Classified By: Ambassador Harry K. Thomas, reasons 1.4 b and d.


1. (C) Summary. PM Zia promised full support for U.S. law
enforcement consultants investigating the January 27 attack,
expressed a strong preference for the FBI because of its
positive profile in Bangladesh, and attributed hartal
violence and a bombing at the Khulna press club to the Awami
League. As the next step, we request New Delhi Legatt come
to Dhaka to negotiate appropriate terms of reference. End
Summary.


2. (U) Action request--see para 8.


3. (SBU) On February 7, Ambassador presented reftel talking
points to Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. P/E counselor
(notetaker),PMO Principal Secretary Kamaluddin Sidiqui, PMO
Political Secretary Haris Chowdhury, and PMO Press Secretary
Tajul Islam sat in.


4. (C) After opening pleasantries, Ambassador stated that he
had come in response to the PM's telephone conversation with
Secretary Rice and her request for U.S. law enforcement

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assistance in investigating the January 27 attack. He
reiterated USG condemnation of the attack and the importance
of solving the crime. We want, he said, to work with the BDG
to support democracy and stability, and to stop acts that
benefit only the extremists.


5. (C) However, he noted, we have serious concerns given our
experience after the August 21 attack, when the BDG denied
ATF consultants access to key witnesses and failed to protect
the crime scene from severe contamination. To make the
involvement of U.S. law enforcement consultants meaningful
this time, we seek clear BDG commitments that U.S.
consultants would have full access to all evidence and
witnesses. If the consultants came and were obstructed,
Ambassador said, they would leave and the USG would be
obliged to explain publicly why. As a next step, he
suggested that terms of reference be negotiated with the Home
Ministry to detail the precise role and parameters of USG
consultants in the investigation.


6. (C) Zia asserted her full support for an open and complete
investigation to solve this "very sad" crime. She expressed
a strong preference for FBI involvement because, as Principal
Secretary Sidiqui interjected, "The FBI is well known and

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well respected here." Press Secretary Islam suggested that,
even if ATF agents were included, the team could still be
called a "FBI" team. The Ambassador undertook to convey to
Washington the PM's strong preference for the FBI.


7. (C) Ambassador noted that with each passing day the
January 27 crime scene, if not properly protected, would
become more and more contaminated. Sidiqui took the point,
but remarked that fencing off the crime scene would lead to
"opposition" allegations that the BDG has "something to
hide." Zia added: "We're very concerned by these attacks,
but are hartals and bomb throwings that kill policemen good
for democracy?" As Zia nodded, Sidiqui attributed to the
Awami League the February 5 bombing at the Khulna press club
that injured four persons, one seriously.


8. (C) Action requested: Please authorize/instruct New Delhi
Legatt to come to Dhaka to negotiate with Home Ministry
officials appropriate terms of reference for U.S. law
enforcement consultants in the January 27 attack
investigation, with special emphasis on what the BDG wants
them to do and what the BDG would do to make their
involvement meaningful.


9. (C) Comment: There is intense, BDG-fueled media coverage
of possible USG involvement in the January 27 case. As the
PMO press secretary left to brief the media, he asked if he
could announce that a FBI team is en route. Ambassador and
the PM agreed to say the issue had been discussed and that
the next step would be to work out terms of reference. The
BDG has a lot riding on "FBI" participation, which it is
already projecting as evidence of its commitment to solve
Kibria's killing. The profile of USG involvement would be
further elevated if British High Commissioner Chowdhury is
right in anticipating that Scotland Yard will not get
involved this time because of its negative experience with
the investigations of the August 21 attack and the May 21
attack on Chowdhury himself.
THOMAS