BANGLADESH: 2004/2005 END USE MONITORING REPORT

UNCLAS DHAKA 001464

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AFIN SNAR ECON BG
SUBJECT: BANGLADESH: 2004/2005 END USE MONITORING REPORT

REF: STATE 222564


1. The End Use Monitoring Report for Bangladesh follows per
reftel.


2. Procedures: Econoff visited the Department of Narcotics
Control (DNC) lab in Dhaka to examine the INL-funded
equipment and to question personnel about its maintenance and
use. Lab staff members were cooperative in showing the
equipment and answering questions. Econoff also met with the
Director General (DG) for the DNC, Mr. Shamsul Islam, who was
Acting DG until recently. He is cooperative in sharing
information and opinions, but has not yet visited the
narcotics lab to view the equipment first-hand.


3. Status: INL has funded the purchase of several pieces of
laboratory equipment for the DNC. All of the equipment sits
in open-air rooms, exposed to dust and pollution, and most
equipment appeared dirty. An analytical balance, a
top-loading balance, and a polarizing microscope were donated
to the DNC in July 2000. The analytical balance has
malfunctioned because an internal circuit "burned" with power
fluctuations; it remains unused on the laboratory counter.
The top-loading balance and polarizing microscope are in good
working order, although the polarizing microscope remains
underutilized in a room separated from the rest of the lab.
Of two lab technicians originally trained on the polarizing
microscope, one has since left the DNC. The lab director
could not state the purpose of the microscope, and thought it
might have a camera feature. His assistant was able to
demonstrate how the polarizing microscope can identify
cannabis. Of the two high-powered microscopes donated in
March 2005, one is used in the lab while the other is kept in
storage to remain in new condition. The more sophisticated
equipment is used only in the identification of cannabis,
although chemical testing is the preferred means.


4. Problems: All of the problems related to the success of
the program are internal to the BDG: the DG is still settling
into his position, and has not yet visited the lab.
According to him and to the lab director, there is not much
BDG support for their facilities, and they remain
understaffed. The main source of laboratory staff training
in the last five years has been from the ICITAP. Extreme
electricity fluctuations in the country have caused internal
electric problems with the analytical balance.


5. Impact: The number of samples referred to the DNC lab has
doubled from 2004 to 2005. Each seizure must be tested at
this facility, where there are only two technically-trained
staff members. They use INL equipment and training to
identify more than 1,000 samples per month, and Bangladesh
courts accept their results as evidence in narcotics cases.
The impact of USG programs is clear, but is not fully
realized because of apathy within the DNC and BDG.


6. Program Changes: Since the 2003/2004 report, staff at the
DNC lab has been receiving its salary regularly. No other
program changes have taken place.
CHAMMAS