OPPOSITION LEADER RETURNS TO PARLIAMENT: DEMANDS

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 000760

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/13/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL BD BGD
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION LEADER RETURNS TO PARLIAMENT: DEMANDS
BNP/JI CONSIDER REFORMS

Classified By: A/DCM D.C. McCullough, Reason(s): 1.4 (b)


1. (SBU) On the evening of February 12, opposition leader
Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League (AL) returned to
Parliament ending a nearly 14 month boycott. Under
Parliamentary rules, the AL had until February 14 to take
their seats or forfeit them. On July 14, 2004 the AL walked
out of Parliament and started their boycott as part of an
effort to force the government to hold early elections.


2. (SBU) Sheikh Hasina, speaking for nearly an hour,
presented her electoral and caretaker reform packages to
Parliament, and attacked the government for failing to deal
effectively with the rise in food and fuel price, corruption,
insufficient electrical power, fuel and fertilizer, the
controversial partisan appointment of 2 election
commissioners, and for permitting the rise of militancy. She
threatened to resign if the government did not consider her
proposals.


3. (SBU) Minister of Local Government and Rural Development,
and BNP Secretary General, Abdul Mannan Bhuyian replied that
the government is ready to discuss ways that elections are
held in a more credible and fair manner. AL lawmakers
retorted that they expect a response from Prime Minister Zia.
(PM Zia is in Pakistan.)


4. (C) BNP MP Zahir Uddin Swapon told poloff that the return
of the AL to Parliament was a "good sign." He explained that
because BDG politics is centered on elections, AL's return is
a "positive motion in using the political process." Now
Parliament has something to discuss. He opined that the
proposals, which are not yet bills ready for consideration by
Parliament, would be discussed both informally and formally
by the appropriate standing committee.


5. (C) Jatiya Party MP Ghulam M. Quader told poloff that if
the BNP is serious about discussing any reforms, the Speaker
will call the Chief Whips from both parties to form a select
committee to consider the issues. He said that this
Parliament session was to end on February 15 but now that AL
has returned the session might be extended another 15 days.


6. (SBU) The media noted the presence in Parliament of Charge
D'Affaires as well as diplomats from the UK, EU, Germany,
India, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, and Japan.


7. (C) Comment: While the BNP might consider modest
electoral reforms, there is no reason to think it would budge
on keeping the caretaker system as it is presently structured.
CHAMMAS