DHAKA INCHES BACK TO NORMAL AMID RUMORS OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 006647

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2016
TAGS: KDEM PGOV BG
SUBJECT: DHAKA INCHES BACK TO NORMAL AMID RUMORS OF
BLOCKADE SUSPENSION

REF: DHAKA 06644

Classified By: P/E Counselor D.C. McCullough, reason para 1.4 d.


1. (C) Summary. There were no reports of major incidents
during the fourth day of the opposition's nationwide
transportation blockade program in Bangladesh. Traffic is
nearing normal levels in many areas of Dhaka, and
demonstrators appear more festive than confrontational. Two
Awami League leaders predicted to us their party would soon
announce a three-day suspension of the blockade to allow more
time for the political talks underway on the fate of the
Election Commission. End Summary.

Dhaka Today
--------------


2. (SBU) Dhaka was largely peaceful today as the Awami
League-led blockade entered its fourth day to pressure the
caretaker government to adopt wide-ranging electoral changes,
particularly the purging of the Election Commission. Traffic
in many areas neared normal levels, and more shops were open.
Police escorted demonstrators marching to assembly points,
where there was singing, dancing, and burning of effigies of
Chief Election Commissioner Aziz.


3. (SBU) Activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and
Jamaat Islami rallied well away from their rivals, averting a
potential flashpoint for violence. Major transportation
arteries remain shut down, but there are unconfirmed reports
the government is arranging armed escorts for trucks to exit
Chittagong port, where some activity resumed.


4. (SBU) In Sylhet, a clash today between rival activists
injured 20 persons, according to local media. There are no
other reports of violence.

Rumored Election Commission Resignations
--------------


5. (C) Local media reports aside, three election
commissioners are not planning to abandon their embattled
chief, according to one commissioner. At a meeting with the
commissioners this afternoon, he told us, Chief Election
Commissioner Aziz reiterated his determination to stay on the
job.

Controversial Police Official Transferred
--------------


6. (C) The senior police official alleged to have
orchestrated the November 13 violence where a police van ran
over two activists (reftel) has been transferred to
Rangamati, the Bangladeshi equivalent of Siberia. His
transfer was one of three privately demanded by the Awami
League to a caretaker government official in exchange for
suspension of the blockade.


7. (C) Another demanded transfer involved Home Secretary
Jahurul Islam, an alleged partisan of Jamaat Islami who
apparently spearheaded the abortive November 12 move to
deploy military forces in support of civilian authorities;
his transfer to another ministry was apparently halted in mid
stream, presumably in response to pressure from the former
ruling coalition.

Assurances to Business
--------------


8. (SBU) President/Chief Adviser Ahmed yesterday assured
nervous business leaders that the current political situation
would end soon, according to press reports. The day before,
Awami League Secretary General Jalil urged Bangladeshis to be
patient for just a few more days.

Relief in Sight?
--------------


9. (C) The Awami League-led coalition may announce as early
as tonight a three-day suspension of its blockade program,
according to two party leaders. In separate conversations
with us, they said the suspension would cite the need to
allow talks underway on the Election Commission more time to
develop.

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


DHAKA 00006647 002 OF 002



10. (C) Whether a blockade suspension materializes or not,
such optimism reflects a palpable reduction in street
tensions, and hope that the two major political parties will
continue to exercise restraint and take advantage of the new
opportunity for dialogue initiated by four caretaker
government advisers.
BUTENIS