DISSENT FROM A CHIEF ZIA ADVISOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 006190

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2015
TAGS: PTER PREL BG BG JI
SUBJECT: DISSENT FROM A CHIEF ZIA ADVISOR

Classified By: CDA Judith Chammas; reason para 1.4(d)


1. (C) Summary: PMO insider Siddiqui told Charge at least 50
BNP MP's want to drop Jamaat Islami from the ruling
coalition, acknowledged that the BDG has failed to recognize
JMB's terrorist potential, and accused Tarique Rahman of
arranging the release of Bangla Bhai's reputed number two.
Siddiqui is a strong critic of Tarique and JI. End Summary.


2. (SBU) On December 14, Charge met for one hour with
Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Dr. Kamal
Siddiqui. EconOff (note taker) accompanied.


3. (C) Siddiqui immediately raised the spate of attacks
attributed to Jamaat'ul Mujahadin Bangladesh (JMB). He
acknowledged BDG missteps, in particular its failure to
recognize JMB's terrorist potential and the protection of
senior JMB figures by influential BNP leaders. JMB, he said,
is filled with former Jamaat Islami (JI) members who broke
away when JI aligned with BNP. Some JI members, he said,
maintain supportive links to JMB. When asked, Siddiqui
declined to give names or more specific information. He also
said: "There is no doubt that there are some foreigners
helping JMB. There is a nagging suspicion that this is the
work of 'the big brother.'"


4. (C) Charge told Siddiqui that wild speculation about
Indian or Awami League (AL) involvement with the JMB
undermined BDG credibility as a committed foe of extremism.
The BDG, she added, would be judged by concrete actions, like
its ability to arrest senior JMB leaders, prevent future
attacks, and hold ruling coalition figures accountable for
their ties to extremists. The USG, she noted, is willing to
support the BDG's anti-extremism efforts, even though we have
been disappointed by the BDG's lukewarm response to our
offers of technical assistance in the JMB investigation.


5. (C) Siddiqui cited growing anger within the BNP over its
partnership with JI. There are at least 50 MPs, he said, who
do not support retaining JI as part of the alliance. He
stated that he has mentioned his concerns to the Prime
Minister, saying Bangladeshis view JI as an embarrassment to
the BNP. JI "negates what I have stood for my entire life,"
recalling JI's notorious support for Pakistan during the 1971
Liberation War.


6. (C) Siddiqui stated that the Rapid Action Battalion had
arrested Kamarul, Bangla Bhai's reputed deputy, but that an
agitated Home Minister of State Babar had complained that he
had been forced to release him quickly after the intervention
of Tarique Rahman, PM Zia's son and heir apparent, acting at
the behest of State Minister for Land Dulu. He referred to
Tarique as "Wind Tunnel," a translation of the name of his
Hawa Bhaban office. "Wind Tunnel has some psycho friends"
that he listens to because of his lack of experience,
Siddiqui groaned.


7. (C) Comment: Siddiqui made no reference to the previous
day's arrest of JMB commander Ataur Rahman Sunny, made public
five hours later at a RAB press conference; it is equally
hard to believe that he was unaware of it or that he would
not have mentioned it in the course of this conversation.
Siddiqui has complained to us many times about Tariq, whom he
views as unsophisticated and dangerous, but he remains loyal
to PM Zia and the BNP.
CHAMMAS