Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DHAKA1072
2006-03-02 10:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dhaka
Cable title:
HASINA DISMISSES ZIA'S OFFER OF DIALOGUE
how-toVZCZCXRO4953 PP RUEHCI DE RUEHKA #1072 0611031 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 021031Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5725 INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0992 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 7327 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 8920 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 8411 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1387 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 001072
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2011
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM BG
SUBJECT: HASINA DISMISSES ZIA'S OFFER OF DIALOGUE
Classified By: A/DCM D.C. McCullough, reason para 1.4 d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 001072
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2011
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM BG
SUBJECT: HASINA DISMISSES ZIA'S OFFER OF DIALOGUE
Classified By: A/DCM D.C. McCullough, reason para 1.4 d.
1. (SBU) On March 1, opposition Awami League (AL) leader
Sheikh Hasina dismissed as unnecessary Prime Minister Zia,s
offer in parliament to form a committee to discuss proposed
electoral reforms. Speaking to a mass rally in Chittagong,
Hasina declared that her proposals were clear and required no
further discussion, and that Zia's offer of dialogue was a
ploy to mask a BNP "conspiracy" to steal the next election.
She promised (another) "oust government movement" if the BNP
refused to accept her proposals, and announced plans to
besiege Election Commission (EC) offices across the country
on March 12 to protest the EC's insistence on creating a new
voter list from scratch.
2. (SBU) Hasina also blamed the BDG for the recent fire in a
Chittagong garment factory that killed around 50 workers, and
blasted it for failing to solve acts of political violence
and the 2004 Chittagong arms haul. An AL government, she
said, would expand the railway tracks from Chittagong to
Cox's Bazaar, construct a suspension bridge over the
Karnaphuli river, add a Chittagong deep sea port extension,
and promote the development of the Chittagong Hill Tracts as
a tourist area.
3. (SBU) AL presidium member Suranjit Sengupta told us that
he doubted Zia's sincerity in discussing reform proposals,
but claimed that Hasina did not "outright reject" Zia,s
offer. Another AL leader, Mukul Bose, predicted that the AL
would probably respond favorably to the PM.
4. (C) Comment: Even Bangladeshi newspapers normally critical
of the BDG have welcomed Zia's offer of dialogue as a
tentative step forward. The good news is that while the two
ladies show no sign of being willing to actually compromise
on a core position, they have both become more mindful of the
importance of occupying the moral high ground and appearing
to be the relatively reasonable party in their wearisome
disputes. Such sensitivity to the spotlight is our best tool
for pressing them to leave some holds barred in the next
election.
CHAMMAS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2011
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM BG
SUBJECT: HASINA DISMISSES ZIA'S OFFER OF DIALOGUE
Classified By: A/DCM D.C. McCullough, reason para 1.4 d.
1. (SBU) On March 1, opposition Awami League (AL) leader
Sheikh Hasina dismissed as unnecessary Prime Minister Zia,s
offer in parliament to form a committee to discuss proposed
electoral reforms. Speaking to a mass rally in Chittagong,
Hasina declared that her proposals were clear and required no
further discussion, and that Zia's offer of dialogue was a
ploy to mask a BNP "conspiracy" to steal the next election.
She promised (another) "oust government movement" if the BNP
refused to accept her proposals, and announced plans to
besiege Election Commission (EC) offices across the country
on March 12 to protest the EC's insistence on creating a new
voter list from scratch.
2. (SBU) Hasina also blamed the BDG for the recent fire in a
Chittagong garment factory that killed around 50 workers, and
blasted it for failing to solve acts of political violence
and the 2004 Chittagong arms haul. An AL government, she
said, would expand the railway tracks from Chittagong to
Cox's Bazaar, construct a suspension bridge over the
Karnaphuli river, add a Chittagong deep sea port extension,
and promote the development of the Chittagong Hill Tracts as
a tourist area.
3. (SBU) AL presidium member Suranjit Sengupta told us that
he doubted Zia's sincerity in discussing reform proposals,
but claimed that Hasina did not "outright reject" Zia,s
offer. Another AL leader, Mukul Bose, predicted that the AL
would probably respond favorably to the PM.
4. (C) Comment: Even Bangladeshi newspapers normally critical
of the BDG have welcomed Zia's offer of dialogue as a
tentative step forward. The good news is that while the two
ladies show no sign of being willing to actually compromise
on a core position, they have both become more mindful of the
importance of occupying the moral high ground and appearing
to be the relatively reasonable party in their wearisome
disputes. Such sensitivity to the spotlight is our best tool
for pressing them to leave some holds barred in the next
election.
CHAMMAS