Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DHAKA2799
2006-05-17 10:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dhaka
Cable title:  

NARCOTICS ARREST: BIG FISH FOR LAW AND ORDER?

Tags:  KCRM SNAR PGOV PTER BG 
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DE RUEHKA #2799 1371019
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 171019Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7838
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 9103
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 7439
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1125
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 8535
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 7713
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHDC
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 002799 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEW DELHI FOR STEVE HORNESS, DEA
STATE FOR INL
DOJ FOR OPDAT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2016
TAGS: KCRM SNAR PGOV PTER BG
SUBJECT: NARCOTICS ARREST: BIG FISH FOR LAW AND ORDER?

REF: A. DHAKA 1464


B. DHAKA 02296

Classified By: Economic Chief David Renz; reason para 1.4(d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 002799

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEW DELHI FOR STEVE HORNESS, DEA
STATE FOR INL
DOJ FOR OPDAT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2016
TAGS: KCRM SNAR PGOV PTER BG
SUBJECT: NARCOTICS ARREST: BIG FISH FOR LAW AND ORDER?

REF: A. DHAKA 1464


B. DHAKA 02296

Classified By: Economic Chief David Renz; reason para 1.4(d)


1. (C) Summary: The recent arrest of a prominent
businessmen led to the BDG pronouncement of success against
heroin traffickers in the country. The chairman of a large
food export company is the government's "big fish" in the
case, despite his arrest being based solely on the
confessions of jailed smugglers. The amount of government
and media attention given to this case is remarkable, given
the usual reluctance to recognize a drug problem in the
country. End Summary.


2. (U) Local media has made much ado about the efforts of
the BDG to catch the individuals responsible for heroin
trafficked to the UK in 2005, ever since a report on the case
was released last month (reftel). They have followed the
case hungrily as the Police took over for Customs for the
criminal investigation, resulting this week in the arrest of
the Chairman of BD Foods, Badruddoza Chowdhury Momen.


3. (C) The BDG is taking an uncharacteristically
comprehensive approach towards the investigation. A special
probe team was set up within the Home Ministry to track the
case and prepare it for criminal prosecution. Press reports
paraphrase Home Minister Babar by saying, "the government's
achievements in this particular case will definitely restore
the country's image."


4. (C) It was thought that Badruddoza and his company had
been exonerated by the Customs report, which blamed former
employees for using company information to ship drugs. The
arrest of the chairman came as a bit of a surprise. Embassy
staff spoke with the head of the probe team in the case,
Special Police Super Ibrahib Fatemi. He confirmed that
Badruddoza's arrest was based solely on the confessional
statements of two incarcerated smugglers, former BD Foods
employee Nazmul Haider Buyiyan Bulbul and his accomplice
Mokhlesur Rahman Nayan. Fatemi noted that Police are in hot
pursuit of actual hard evidence in the case.


5. (C) Comment: It could be that the BDG focus on this
case is the result of overall efforts to increase the
perception of law and order. UK initiation of the
investigation is also likely to have strong-armed the
government into decisive action. However, rumors persist
that competing food export companies or other vested
interests may be targeting BD Foods. End Comment.
CHAMMAS