RIHS STILL IN BANGLADESH, PRESS REPORTS DESPITE

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 002000 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EB/ESC/TFS (DBROWN),S/CT (TKUSHNER),IO/PSC (BFITZGERALD),SCA, NEA E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2016 TAGS: EFIN ETTC KTFN PTER BG SUBJECT: RIHS STILL IN BANGLADESH, PRESS REPORTS DESPITE PRESS REPORTS TO THE CONTRARY Classified By: Ambassador Patricia Butenis; Reason 1.4(d) ¶1. (SBU) Local media have speculated broadly on the visit of a Kuwait-based official of the Revival of Islamic Heritage Society (RIHS) to discuss the future of the NGO allegedly linked to Jamaatul Mujahidin Bangladesh (JMB),the terrorist group responsible for a wave of bombing and suicide attacks in late 2005. One stated that the BDG is about to shut down the NGO following a recommendation by the National Security Intelligence (NSI) agency. ¶2. (C) On March 31, Home Minister of State Babar confirmed to us that the official came to shut down RIHS, but that first he must make alternative funding arrangements for the dialysis center and orphanage RIHS supports in Bangladesh. Babar stated that he personally must approve any fund transfers to RIHS from the BDG's NGO Affairs Bureau (NGOAB), which regulates foreign-supported NGO's. ¶3. (C) On April 9, however, NGOAB Deputy Director Shah Mohammad Nasim told us he had no knowledge of RIHS's shutdown, that RIHS is still registered as a NGO, and there is no action underway to revoke it. On the other hand, RIHS accounts are frozen, except for two that fund the dialysis center and orphanage.. Although originally frozen with all RIHS accounts, NGOAB Director General Mustaq Ahmed requested a limited exception to unfreeze funds for these two purposes, on humanitarian grounds. ¶4. (C) On April 10, an Embassy FSNI went to RIHS's Dhaka office posing as a student requesting information on RIHS activities. A RIHS employee stated that the group's activities are suspended but may resume if funding is reactivated. Office activities appeared to be normal. During his visit, another RIHS employee distributed Islamist literature on jihad to another visitor. The FSNI was advised to return in 15 days to see if funding was available for new projects. ¶4. (C) Comment: RIHS's exact status remains unclear. According to Embassy sources, there was no NSI report recommending RIHS's closure, though NSI has told us RIHS would close once alternative arrangements were made for the orphans under its care. We will continue to monitor RIHS activities and press the BDG at all levels to take strong action, including closure, against RIHS. BUTENIS