Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DHAKA1865
2006-04-04 09:35:00
SECRET
Embassy Dhaka
Cable title:
SCA DAS GASTRIGHT MEETINGS AT MFA
how-toVZCZCXYZ0003 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHKA #1865 0940935 ZNY SSSSS ZZH R 040935Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6655 INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 9004 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1059 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 8474 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 7381
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.
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
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