BDG CONCESSIONS DEFUSE KANSAT UPRISING

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 002147

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

CORRECTED COPY-REF ADDED

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM BG
SUBJECT: BDG CONCESSIONS DEFUSE KANSAT UPRISING

REF: DHAKA 02089

Classified By: P/E Counselor D.C. McCullough, Reason 1.4(d)


1. (SBU) Late April 16, demonstrators in Kansat (reftel) and
the BDG struck a deal ending a three-month popular uprising
over electricity prices and regulation. Except for the
resignation of local BNP MP Shahjahan Miah, the BDG
delegation of five senior area BNP leaders conceded every
demand by the demonstrators, who in return called off the
nationwide strike called for April 20. Residents have
started returning to their homes, schools have reopened, and
normal economic activity is resuming.


2. (C) The opposition Awami League (AL),however, appears set
to continue with its strike plans, which it says are to mourn
the approximately 19 persons killed over the course of the
Kansat demonstrations as well as express solidarity for the
demands of the people of Kansat. AL organizing secretary
Akhtaruzzaman told us that the opposition 14-party alliance
would review the situation on April 18, but that their strike
would likely continue.


3. (SBU) The BDG delegation, headed by State Minister for
Civil Aviation and Tourism Mirza Alamgir, agreed to reduce
power prices, compensate victims of police violence, end
monthly meter charges, release detained demonstrators, and
drop related charges. It will also end fines for late
payments, illegal connections to religious buildings, and
stolen lines and transformers.


4. (C) Baharul Islam, Deputy Inspector General of Police for
Rajshahi, told poloff that the people are now "calm and happy
and things are back to normal." However, he admitted, many of
the BDG concessions, like reduced periods of load shedding,
will be difficult as "it's not possible to increase power
supplies overnight." He asserted, though, that much of the
discontent centered not on the supply of electricity but on
the administration of the electricity board. For example, he
said, locals were outraged when valuable fruit trees were cut
down for the installation of new cables. Islam blamed Golam
Rabbani, the leader of the demonstrators, with exploiting the
situation for political gain. Jatiya Party member Kamran
Chowdhury told poloff that the BDG "won't be able to honor
their agreement," and that the deal was only to "to get some
time." The real winner, he stated, was Rabbani, who
"overnight has been created a leader."


5. (C) Comment: After ignoring Kansat for three months, the
BNP dramatically defused the crisis with a stunning array of
concessions. The media, with graphic coverage of police
violence against demonstrators, played a large role in
building sympathy for Kansat among civil society and putting
pressure on the BDG to act. Kansat, previously a BNP safe
seat, will further heighten BNP sensitivity over power
problems as a major political liability going into the next
election. Many Bangladeshis will wonder whether Kansat will
encourage other rural areas, which have seen episodic
protests against power outages, to become more aggressive.
BUTENIS