USCIRF VISIT TO BANGLADESH

UNCLAS DHAKA 001242 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM KIRF PGOV BG SUBJECT: USCIRF VISIT TO BANGLADESH REF: ` ¶1. Members of the United States International Commission on Religious Freedom (USCIRF) visited Dhaka from February 26 to March 2 and met with Bangladeshi religious, political, civil society and economic leaders to discuss the state of religious freedom and efforts to protect and promote the rights of religious minorities. ¶2. Commissioners Michael Cromartie, Felice Gaer and Preeta Bansal met with representatives of the major religious sects. Asked how the rise of Islamic extremism affected their groups, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu and Ahmadiya leaders replied that, while they were generally free to carry on religious activities, they felt that their safety was threatened by small groups of violent extremists. All the minority groups said that they were discriminated against in government and private sector employment, in university admissions, and in the courts. ¶3. The Commissioners also met with the Foreign Minister, the Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, the Minister for Education, the Minister of State for Religious Affairs, and the Minister for Industries. USCIRF members asked about government and private funding for madrassah education, land rights for indigenous groups, allegations of abuse and discrimination against religious minorities following the 2001 elections, and other issues brought up by participants at CIRF's open forum on Bangladesh in 2004. Government officials repeatedly stated that freedom of religion was a guaranteed constitutional right, that Islamic extremism was a problem for a few months in 2005 but it was now under control, and that Bangladesh was a moderate Muslim majority country with no issues of communalism. Many cabinet members spoke of the successful 2004 concurrent celebrations of Eid-al-Fitr and Durga Puja, the most important holidays of the Muslim and Hindu communities. Despite the unusual overlapping of these two festivals, there were no reported clashes or disturbances between the two groups. ¶4. Other events during the visit included a meeting with Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, a lunch with Islamic clerics and scholars, discussions with Hindu business leaders, a lunch with female human rights and civil society leaders, and dinners hosted by the Charg d'Affaires and the Foreign Secretary. The Commissioners heard a range of opinions from these groups. Some stressed the achievements of Bangladesh in the last 30 years to promote development, democracy and religious freedom. Others emphasized Bangladeshi human rights abuses, the climate of impunity and the recent attacks by groups like JMB and JMJB. ¶5. The visit created significant media interest. Visits with the Ahmadiya leadership, the Catholic Archbishop, and many of the ministers received both press and broadcast coverage. ¶6. This cable was drafted after the Commissioners departed Dhaka. CHAMMAS