Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DHAKA6545
2006-11-02 10:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dhaka
Cable title:
ERSHAD TELLS AMBASSADOR HE WILL SOON ANNOUNCE HIS
how-toVZCZCXRO7395 PP RUEHCI DE RUEHKA #6545 3061036 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 021036Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2494 INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1354 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 9461 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 7641 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 8790 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 006545
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV BG
SUBJECT: ERSHAD TELLS AMBASSADOR HE WILL SOON ANNOUNCE HIS
DECISION TO JOIN BNP
Classified By: Ambassador Patricia Butenis; Reason 1.4(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 006545
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV BG
SUBJECT: ERSHAD TELLS AMBASSADOR HE WILL SOON ANNOUNCE HIS
DECISION TO JOIN BNP
Classified By: Ambassador Patricia Butenis; Reason 1.4(d)
¶1. (C) On November 2, Ambassador and poloff (notetaker) met
with Jatiya Party (JP) Chairman and former President Ershad
along with JP Secretary General Ruhul Amin Howlander and
International and Diplomatic Affairs Secretary Golam Moshi.
Ershad said that he would announce his joining the Bangladesh
National Party (BNP) alliance within a few days, as the BNP
has "agreed to my condition that I be named President if only
for six months." He added that the Awami League only offered
him 31 seats in Parliament and the position of Deputy Leader
of Parliament, which he considered beneath him.
¶2. (C) Ershad doubted that the Awami League (AL) would
boycott the elections, and said that "if the Awami League
doesn't participate, then we will do better." He estimated
that his strength in areas of Rangpur, Sylhet, Commilla would
enable him to win 30 to 40 seats, adding that "I have solid
vote banks throughout the country." Asked if Jamaat Islami
(JI) is an asset to the four party alliance, Ershad said that
JI's student and financial wings are strong, but "they are
isolated from the people due to their connection with
Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB)." JI's weakness has
become a big problem for the BNP, he said.
¶3. (C) Ambassador noted the recent violence and appealed to
Ershad to call for calm. Ershad responded that the Jatiya
Party is always against violence. He added that the violence
has only hurt the AL as people have now forgotten BNP's
inability to stem increasing prices and provide electricity
and are only focused now on the AL bloody agitation.
¶4. (C) Ershad noted that KM Hassan stepped aside as Chief
Advisor "for the good of the country" but doubted that Chief
Election Commissioner Aziz would do the same, even though
"everyone is against him."
BUTENIS