CARETAKER GOVERNMENT ADVISORS APPOINTED

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 006521 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BG SUBJECT: CARETAKER GOVERNMENT ADVISORS APPOINTED REF: DHAKA 06493 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. The opposition Awami League fared well with its nominees for caretaker advisers, though portfolios have yet to be assigned. Sporadic political violence persists, mostly outside of Dhaka. Under apparent pressure from the former ruling party, the caretaker government reversed two key personnel actions. The controversial chief election commissioner says he has no plan to resign. Amid opposition calls for more changes in police and civil administration personnel, the government reshuffled 16 senior police officials. End Summary. Advisors -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On October 31, ten advisors, or ministers, to the caretaker government were sworn in: A) Justice Fazlul Haque: No specific party affiliation, may receive charge of the Law Ministry. B) Dr. Akbar Ali Khan: A former Cabinet Secretary who served both Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party governments, as well as the World Bank. Nominated by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, may receive charge of the Finance Ministry. C) C.M. Shafi Sami: A former Foreign Secretary, may receive charge of the Foreign Ministry. Nominated by the Awami League. D) LTG (R) Hasan Moshud Chowdhury: Declined offer to extend, retired as Army Chief in 2005. Held in high professional regard. Nominated by Jamaat Islami. E) M. Azizul Haque: A former Inspector General of Police during the 1996 caretaker government who stayed in that position for 17 months under the new Awami League government before being prematurely retired. F) Dhiraj Kumar Nath: A former Secretary and the only Hindu appointee. Nominated by the Awami League. G) Sultana Kamal: A well-known human rights advocate and president of the human rights organization Ain-o-Shalish Kendra. She is the only prominent political activist in the group, a former member of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, and member of Kamal Hossain's Gono Forum. Nominated by the Awami League. H) Yasmin Murshed: President of Scholastica, a prominent private school in Dhaka. Nominated by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. I) Mahbubul Alam: Editor of the English-language daily newspaper "The Independent." No known party affiliation, but his newspaper is owned by a business conglomerate, BEXIMCO, which has close Awami League ties. Served as Ambassador to Bhutan during the Ershad regime. Comes from the same district as President Ahmed, believed to have been Ahmed's personal choice. J) Professor (Emeritus) Sufia Rahman: Widow of Ishtiaq Ahmed, a former caretaker advisor and Attorney General during Sheikh Mujib's government. May receive charge of the Health Ministry. ¶3. (SBU) Awami League leaders greeted the appointments with caution, noting they are learned and respected people who will be judged by their actions. While the group appears relatively balanced, much will depend on portfolio assignments. The opposition has identified as critical the home affairs and establishment ministries, the latter because it oversees the assignments of government employees who double as poll workers. LTG Chowdhury and Azizul Haq may be the likeliest candidates for the Home Ministry portfolio; Awami League reaction to either could be negative. Violence Percolates -------------- ¶4. (SBU) On October 31, five persons were killed and more than 80 were injured in political clashes in areas outside of Dhaka, according to press reports. Both the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party have rallies scheduled today for Dhaka. Clashes are possible, but there is a huge law enforcement presence throughout the downtown areas. Caretaker Government Reversals DHAKA 00006521 002 OF 002 -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Under reported pressure from the former ruling party, the caretaker government has reversed two key personnel actions: Rafiquul Islam was moved out as Secretary to the President, and Aktar Hussain was reinstated as Power Division Secretary. As a result, perceptions of the caretaker government's neutrality and authority will suffer. Chief Election Commissioner -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Facing renewed opposition demands that he quit immediately, Chief Election Commissioner Aziz told journalists yesterday he is focused on preparing for elections and has no plan to resign. Arrests -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Local media report that police have arrested as many as 500 persons since the weekend as part of a new "anti-crime" drive. The Awami League charges more than 100 of its activists were picked up. There are also reported BNP arrests. It is unclear if the arrests are politically driven or biased, or are part of a bigger law enforcement crackdown in Dhaka. More Personnel Changes -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Against the backdrop of opposition demands for more changes, the caretaker government reshuffled 16 senior police officials, including the heads of the Dhaka police and the Rapid Action Battalion. The new director general of the controversial Rapid Action Battalion, Khoda Bakhs, is well and favorably known to the Embassy. BUTENIS