Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DHAKA6263
2006-10-13 11:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dhaka
Cable title:
HOME MINISTER PROVIDES BACKGROUND ON CHOUDHURY CASE
VZCZCXRO8465 PP RUEHCI DE RUEHKA #6263 2861125 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 131125Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2127 INFO RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 8751 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 1315 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 9404 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 7604 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 006263
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BG
SUBJECT: HOME MINISTER PROVIDES BACKGROUND ON CHOUDHURY CASE
REF: A. DHAKA 06225
B. DHAKA 06257
C. DHAKA 06261
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Geeta Pasi; reason 1.4(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 006263
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BG
SUBJECT: HOME MINISTER PROVIDES BACKGROUND ON CHOUDHURY CASE
REF: A. DHAKA 06225
B. DHAKA 06257
C. DHAKA 06261
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Geeta Pasi; reason 1.4(d)
1. (C) SUMMARY. Charge d'Affaires a.i. met with Home Minister
Lutfozzaman Babar on October 12 to discuss journalist Salah
Uddin Shoaib Choudhury. Charge informed Babar that the
Embassy remains very engaged in the Choudhury case. She
reminded the Home Minister of U.S. focus in the case, namely
to ensure that Choudhury receives due process and that his
safety is guaranteed. Babar confirmed GOB concurrence on both
points and detailed his personal efforts on behalf of
Choudhury as well as the attention the case has received
within the government, including from the Prime Minister.
POLOFF served as notetaker. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) Babar said the U.S. has been misled by Choudhury,
adding that he has been dishonest. Asking that we "not make
it public," he told us he had been providing Choudhury with
monthly stipends since the latter's release from prison in
2004. According to Babar, on October 4 - the day before the
most recent incident (REFTEL Dhaka 06225) - Choudhury had
called him asking for an emergency advance. Babar confided
that he sent him 20,000 taka (300 USD). The next day
Choudhury called Babar's personal aide to inform him of the
incident. Babar said he immediately ordered police to
Choudhury's office to investigate.
3. (C) Babar dismissed the October 5 attack as a property
dispute completely unrelated to the sedition case. Hilaluddin
Khan owned the property where Choudhury had set up an office.
Khan's brother Mahbubul Alam Khan, who was a business partner
of Choudhury's on the property issue, now claims that
Choudhury falsified documents to claim ownership of the
property. The Home Minister provided copies of legal
documents related to this case. Babar added that Choudhury
is also refusing to pay rent on his residence, noting that it
is frustrating to help Choudhury when he unnecessarily
antagonizes people at every turn. Describing Choudhury, the
Minister said, "he is always creating a mess, I don't
understand it." The two recent property incidents served to
convince him that Choudhury was "a bad man." Babar said he
would not help Choudhury out in the property cases.
4. (C) The Home Minister said, however, he has been working
to get Choudhury's sedition case dropped. When he asked the
PM for permission to do so, she told him, "do whatever you
have to." Babar arranged with the Law Minister to get the
case dropped. "All Choudhury had to do was file a review
petition (similar to an appeal)," but he dragged his heels.
Babar said that he would continue to try to help Choudhury in
the sedition case. He asked rhetorically, "What is he going
to do when I am out of office at the end of the month?"
5. (C) Babar detailed another of his efforts to help
Choudhury financially. It involved paying him a large sum to
place positive articles about Bangladesh in US newspapers and
required Babar to approach enlist BNP officials to contribute
money. Choudhury said he would have a "well-known journalist
who wrote for the Washington Post, the New York Post, etc."
place the articles. The articles never appeared, and when
the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington tried to verify the
bonafides of the journalist, they could find no evidence she
existed. Babar confessed he is paying a political price for
endorsing Choudhury.
6. (C) COMMENT: Babar confirmed and detailed the long history
between himself and Choudhury, and while visibly frustrated,
he once again said he would keep Choudhury safe and ensure
his trial is carried out properly (noting repeatedly that he
wants to have the sedition case dismissed). The Home Minister
shared many details about the Choudhury case for the first
time, including his personal interaction with Choudhury.
While very upset with Choudhury, the Home Minister reiterated
his commitment - and that of his government - to ensure due
process and security for Choudhury. END COMMENT.
PASI
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BG
SUBJECT: HOME MINISTER PROVIDES BACKGROUND ON CHOUDHURY CASE
REF: A. DHAKA 06225
B. DHAKA 06257
C. DHAKA 06261
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Geeta Pasi; reason 1.4(d)
1. (C) SUMMARY. Charge d'Affaires a.i. met with Home Minister
Lutfozzaman Babar on October 12 to discuss journalist Salah
Uddin Shoaib Choudhury. Charge informed Babar that the
Embassy remains very engaged in the Choudhury case. She
reminded the Home Minister of U.S. focus in the case, namely
to ensure that Choudhury receives due process and that his
safety is guaranteed. Babar confirmed GOB concurrence on both
points and detailed his personal efforts on behalf of
Choudhury as well as the attention the case has received
within the government, including from the Prime Minister.
POLOFF served as notetaker. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) Babar said the U.S. has been misled by Choudhury,
adding that he has been dishonest. Asking that we "not make
it public," he told us he had been providing Choudhury with
monthly stipends since the latter's release from prison in
2004. According to Babar, on October 4 - the day before the
most recent incident (REFTEL Dhaka 06225) - Choudhury had
called him asking for an emergency advance. Babar confided
that he sent him 20,000 taka (300 USD). The next day
Choudhury called Babar's personal aide to inform him of the
incident. Babar said he immediately ordered police to
Choudhury's office to investigate.
3. (C) Babar dismissed the October 5 attack as a property
dispute completely unrelated to the sedition case. Hilaluddin
Khan owned the property where Choudhury had set up an office.
Khan's brother Mahbubul Alam Khan, who was a business partner
of Choudhury's on the property issue, now claims that
Choudhury falsified documents to claim ownership of the
property. The Home Minister provided copies of legal
documents related to this case. Babar added that Choudhury
is also refusing to pay rent on his residence, noting that it
is frustrating to help Choudhury when he unnecessarily
antagonizes people at every turn. Describing Choudhury, the
Minister said, "he is always creating a mess, I don't
understand it." The two recent property incidents served to
convince him that Choudhury was "a bad man." Babar said he
would not help Choudhury out in the property cases.
4. (C) The Home Minister said, however, he has been working
to get Choudhury's sedition case dropped. When he asked the
PM for permission to do so, she told him, "do whatever you
have to." Babar arranged with the Law Minister to get the
case dropped. "All Choudhury had to do was file a review
petition (similar to an appeal)," but he dragged his heels.
Babar said that he would continue to try to help Choudhury in
the sedition case. He asked rhetorically, "What is he going
to do when I am out of office at the end of the month?"
5. (C) Babar detailed another of his efforts to help
Choudhury financially. It involved paying him a large sum to
place positive articles about Bangladesh in US newspapers and
required Babar to approach enlist BNP officials to contribute
money. Choudhury said he would have a "well-known journalist
who wrote for the Washington Post, the New York Post, etc."
place the articles. The articles never appeared, and when
the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington tried to verify the
bonafides of the journalist, they could find no evidence she
existed. Babar confessed he is paying a political price for
endorsing Choudhury.
6. (C) COMMENT: Babar confirmed and detailed the long history
between himself and Choudhury, and while visibly frustrated,
he once again said he would keep Choudhury safe and ensure
his trial is carried out properly (noting repeatedly that he
wants to have the sedition case dismissed). The Home Minister
shared many details about the Choudhury case for the first
time, including his personal interaction with Choudhury.
While very upset with Choudhury, the Home Minister reiterated
his commitment - and that of his government - to ensure due
process and security for Choudhury. END COMMENT.
PASI