SCA DAS GASTRIGHT MEETINGS AT MFA

S E C R E T DHAKA 001865 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2011 TAGS: PREL PGOV UNGA UNSC BG SUBJECT: SCA DAS GASTRIGHT MEETINGS AT MFA REF: A. STATE 049445 ¶B. STATE 044140 Classified By: DCM Judith Chammas, reasons para 1.4 b, d. ¶1. (S) Summary: In a meeting with Foreign Ministry officials, DAS Gastright commended the BDG on recent arrests of terrorist leaders and stressed the need for further investigations and timely prosecutions. DAS Gastright offered continued technical assistance in counterterrorism efforts, especially in training of police and investigators. DAS Gastright solicited BDG support for US observer status in SAARC and for Guatemala to the UN Security Council. He also notified the BDG of the impending release of a Bangladeshi national from Guantanamo MFA officials pledged their support for the US bid for SAARC observer status. MFA welcomed continued cooperation on counter-terrorism efforts. End Summary. ¶2. (U) On March 30, SCA DAS John Gastright met separately with Minister of Foreign Affairs Morshed Khan and MFA Advisor Reaz Rahman. DAS was accompanied by Charge, econoff, and conoff (notetaker). ¶3. (C) DAS Gastright congratulated the BDG on its recent arrest of Shaikh Abdur Rahman and Bangla Bhai. He stressed the need for further investigations to ensure that all links to terrorism are identified and neutralized. While the groundwork had now been laid in counterterrorism operations, it was time to graduate to the next level, he said. Rahman replied that the arrests have brought the terrorism issue to the forefront, and the BDG is making every effort to combat terrorism and terrorist activities in Bangladesh. He pointed to BDG efforts in introducing secular courses in Alia madrasahs as a positive step towards combating fundamentalism. He said that this approach was a way to counter the fundamentalist rhetoric taught in many Koumi madrasahs. MFA is confident that BDG efforts in this area are helping to curb the growth of extremism in Bangladesh. ¶4. (C) Responding to requests for CT technical assistance and equipment, DAS Gastright noted that the USG was committed to strengthening BDG capability in this critical area. He cited the successful completion of seven ATA courses in the last year as a great step forward in our efforts. DAS Gastright noted that a USG team of CT experts would arrive in June to provide specialized VIP protection training to Bangladeshi law enforcement personnel. ¶5. (C) Minister Khan undertook to give strong support to the US bid for observer status in SAARC, and promised to use his role as current chair of the SAARC council of ministers to push this forward. He stressed, however, that the formal submission process needs to be completed soon. ¶6. (C) DAS Gastright asked for BDG support for Guatemala for the Latin America seat in the UN Security Council (ref a). Reaz Rahman stated that the BDG does not have any specific interest in this issue but would support whoever has regional support. The other consideration, according to Rahman, is whether a country has occupied that seat before. He observed that since this is the first time for Guatemala, BDG is likely to support its candidacy. Additionally, BDG would consider Guatemala's Most Favored Nation status with Bangladesh as another reason for support. ¶7. (S) DAS Gastright told the MFA that the Bangladeshi national currently detained in Guantanamo is ready for repatriation to Bangladesh (ref b). Reaz Rahman responded that the information available to the BDG indicates that the detainee,s nationality had not yet been definitively determined. DAS Gastright countered that new evidence had been found to support his claim of Bangladeshi nationality. ¶8. (SBU) Charge flagged the impending of visit of General (R) Henry Stackpole to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Operation Sea Angel, the massive U.S.-led amphibious rescue operation after Cyclone Marian that is credited with saving as many as 140,000 lives. Khan remarked that the BDG looked forward to welcoming Stackpole since he is still widely revered in Bangladesh as a genuine hero.. ¶9. (U) This cable was cleared by DAS Gastright. BUTENIS