Demonstration near the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka,

UNCLAS DHAKA 006071 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR DSERCC DEPT FOR DS/IP/SA DEPT FOR DS/DSS/ITA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC SUBJECT: Demonstration near the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh. SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PROTECT ACCORDINGLY ¶1. (SBU) Summary. A large pro-BNP (Bangladeshi ruling party) demonstration occurred in the immediate vicinity of the Embassy on December 12, 2005. Post had received no prior notice of the demonstration although police appeared to know well in advance. The demonstration lasted for approximately two and a half hours and with no reports of violence. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) On December 12, 2005 the Regional Security Office (RSO) was notified that a procession of approximately 150 demonstrators were seen marching along Pragati Sharani, the street passing between the Chancery compound and the GSO compound, in the direction of the Embassy. Surveillance Detection assets observed the procession and immediately began reporting through their channels. ¶3. (SBU) The procession stopped near a police station on the east side of the intersection through which all Embassy traffic between the two compounds passes. There is a local BNP office in this vicinity. The SD team monitored the event and reported that the demonstration swelled from an initial 150 demonstrators to nearly 2500 before the group broke. ¶4. (SBU) Although there had been a small announcement in local newspapers announcing numerous rallies and demonstrations across the country, the RSO had received no prior notice that one location was to be in the immediate vicinity of the Embassy. ¶5. (SBU) To complicate matters, the demonstration began at 1630 when the Embassy was closing for the day and employees would be passing through the intersection on the way to their homes. In light of recent attacks by suicide bombers in crowds, the RSO notified all Embassy employees by email and made an announcement from Post One advising employees to avoid the intersection if possible and all other public gatherings. ¶6. (SBU) RSO is addressing the issue of sharing information with the local police. ¶7. (U) POC is Regional Security Office Dhaka, 8802-885- 5500 X2288.