BANGLADESH RECRIMINATIONS TOWARDS LABOR RESTART

UNCLAS DHAKA 005643 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ELAB PHUM PREL PGOV ETRD BG SUBJECT: BANGLADESH RECRIMINATIONS TOWARDS LABOR RESTART REF: DHAKA 3176 ¶1. (SBU) BDG security elements are again pressuring a USAID labor partner organization. In July, the National Security Intelligence (NSI) started visiting the offices of the Bangladesh Independent Garment Union Federation (BIGUF) on a regular basis to ask questions about the identity of the labor organizers, the membership, the union's activities, their finances, and home addresses of staff. BIGUF works closely with the USAID-funded American Center for Labor Solidarity (ACILS),also known as Solidarity Center. Shortly after the July visits started, post raised the issue with the Prime Minister's office and the NSI, visits stopped. ¶2. (SBU) Accordingly to BIGUF staff, NSI visits restarted in the beginning of October. In addition, members of the feared and controversial Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) began making visits to BIGUF offices here and in Chittagong, and in the smaller satellite offices of Mirpur and Gazipur, located in the outlying areas of Dhaka. RAB is infamous for having suspects in its custody die in "crossfires." ¶3. (SBU) BIGUF staff told POLOFF that sometimes both RAB and NSI come in large numbers, sometimes in pairs, but always in plain clothes. They take photographs of the premises, both outside and inside, telling the staff, "if you cooperate you will not face problems." BIGUF says they are not permitted to closely inspect the identification presented by either RAB or NSI, but are given cell phone numbers and told to call their chief to verify their credentials. The visits to the BIGUF main office in Dhaka occur two to three times a week, according to staff. ¶4. (SBU) When asked what reason could there be for the return of police pressure, BIGUF staff say that that one NSI officer told them that "you are not acting as a traditional union, but are acting as an NGO," and threatened to terminate their union registration because of these actions. BIGUF staff added that statements from manufacturers and garment owners have accused BIGUF of "taking money from foreign organizations," which the factory owners say is against the law. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: Post will continue to raise this issue with the BDG to underscore our concern that BIGUF and the Solidarity Center are neither harassed, threatened, nor otherwise treated outside the bounds of the law. CHAMMAS