SECOND DAY OF OPPOSITION BLOCKADE GRIPS BANGLADESH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 006642

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM BG
SUBJECT: SECOND DAY OF OPPOSITION BLOCKADE GRIPS BANGLADESH


Classified By: DCM Geeta Pasi, reason para 1.4 d.


1. (SBU) Summary. In the second day of the nationwide
transportation blockade led by the Awami League, one
demonstrator in Dhaka was killed and several dozen injured.
Clashes, however, were sporadic, the number of demonstrators
was relatively modest, and the violence was less than many
had feared. The caretaker government today mounted a late
effort to reconstitute the Election Commission to meet a
principal opposition demand, while the Bangladesh Nationalist
Party threatens to launch its own program against "anarchy"
tomorrow if the blockade continues. Embassy operations are
close to normal. End Summary.

Violence
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2. (SBU) During scattered clashes in Dhaka today between
police and several thousand demonstrators, one activist was
killed and another was critically injured when they were
struck by a police van near the Sonargaon, one of the city's
leading hotels. Enraged demonstrators then burnt several
vehicles, including a police car, and police fired rubber
bullets to disperse the crowd, injuring at least ten people.
Opposition leaders appealed for the "peaceful" enforcement of
the blockade program. The violence near the Sonargaon
reportedly occurred shortly after President/Chief Adviser had
transited the area to his office.


3. (SBU) For a second straight day, demonstrators shut down
Chittagong port and effectively all major transportation
arteries except aviation as part of their "indefinite"
nationwide blockade to protest the caretaker government's
failure to implement an 11-point electoral "reform" program.
Schools and many businesses in Dhaka and other cities
remained closed, with very light vehicular traffic.


4. (SBU) In Sylhet, a train was set ablaze, another one was
derailed in Mymensingh, and rail tracks were removed near
Siraganj, according to press reports. Inter-city air service
is functioning, but an airline official told us flights have
been consolidated due to low passenger demand.

Military
--------------


5. (C) Late November 12, the caretaker government met to
consider calling on military support to restore law and order
and reportedly took several actions indicating deployment was
imminent. At around 2300 local, however, it released a
statement denying press reports that deployments were already
underway and saying that such deployments would occur only
when necessary.

Late Effort to Break Impasse
--------------


6. (C) On November 13, Mokleshur Chowdhury, the influential
press secretary of President/Chief Adviser Ahmed, conveyed to
Ambassador that Ahmed plans to appoint two additional
Election Commissioners in a bid to meet Awami League demands
for a reconstituted Commission. Ahmed, he said, asked
Ambassador to urge the Awami League to accept this proposal
as the most he could do constitutionally to change the shape
of the Commission. Ahmed is reportedly open to suggestions
from the parties and anyone else on whom he should appoint.


7. (C) Ambassador reported later to Chowdhury that she had
informed the Awami League of this proposal and that Awami
League president Sheikh Hasina is willing to engage with
government advisers, but Ambassador reiterated her suggestion
that Ahmed contact Hasina directly.


8. (SBU) Adviser Hasan Mashud Chowdhury, the former army
chief who last week went with Ahmed's military secretary to
ask Chief Election Commissioner Aziz to resign, told
journalists today that the Council of Advisers has approved
an unspecified initiative to reconstitute the Election
Commission. A committee has been formed, he said, to discuss
with the two major parties what he believes are mutually
acceptable proposals.


9. (SBU) At 1500 local, the caretaker government's
information adviser told journalists that government
officials would meet with the Awami League and the Bangladesh
Nationalist Party to discuss outstanding issues.

Embassy Operations
--------------

DHAKA 00006642 002 OF 002




10. (SBU) Embassy operations were close to normal today,
with the great majority of Locally Engaged Staff reporting
for duty. A liberal leave policy and restrictions on
personnel movements remain in effect until further notice.
The area of demonstrator activity closest to the chancery was
about two kilometers away.

Counter-Punch?
--------------


11. (SBU) The Bangladesh Nationalist Party has called for
counter-programs on November 14 to stop what they described
as "anarchy" and a "conspiracy" to derail elections.

Comment
--------------


12. (C) Both major parties are showing unexpected restraint
thus far. The government has not rushed to call on military
support or head towards emergency rule; the police, by local
standards, have been relatively tolerant of demonstrators;
the Awami League appears cautious about being blamed for a
humanitarian disaster and conceivably emergency rule if its
blockade were ruthlessly enforced, and the Bangladesh
Nationalist Party has largely stayed out of the fray, perhaps
because it thinks it holds a strong position thanks to its
political alliances and the basically sympathetic attitude
shown it by the caretaker government. Nevertheless,
political pressure not to "lose face" is huge, party
positions on the Election Commission appear diametrically
opposed, and the next week is likely to be critical.
BUTENIS