REPRESENTATIVE CROWLEY MEETS WITH RELIGIOUS

UNCLAS DHAKA 000932 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV KDEM BD SUBJECT: REPRESENTATIVE CROWLEY MEETS WITH RELIGIOUS MINORITIES ¶1. (SBU) On February 21, Representative Joseph Crowley began his visit to Dhaka by laying a wreath at the monument to the Bangla Language Movement in commemoration of National Language Day. Mr. Crowley, accompanied by USAID Mission Director George and poloff (notetaker),met separately with leaders of three religious minority groups. ¶2. (SBU) Mr. Crowley told leaders of the Hindu Christian Unity Council that it is important in a democracy to protect minority interests, and that he had traveled to Bangladesh in part to emphasize the need for religious pluralism. The leader of the Council, Major General (R) C.R. Dutta, highlighted the group's concerns about the under representation of minorities in government jobs in general and in the top leadership positions in particular. He said that minorities are emigrating at a higher than average rate for Bangladeshis, further endangering religious pluralism. The Christian member of the group discussed problems facing tribal groups near Dhaka who are engaged in a land dispute with the family of a high-ranking Bangladeshi official. ¶3. (SBU) Ahmadiyya leaders Mobasher ur Rahman and Meer Mobasher Ali gave an overview of their current situation with regards to the protests and marches against them led by the International Khatme Nabuwat Movement of Bangladesh (IKNMB). They acknowledged that the BDG had twice successfully defended Ahmadiyya sites in the last three months, but asked Mr. Crowley to lobby on their behalf for additional measures, including a public statement from the BDG against IKNMB before it organizes further protests. Crowley said that he would raise the issue of the Ahmadiyyas in his meetings with the PM, thank her for the steps the BDG had taken to protect Ahmadiyya life and property, and urge her to do more. He said that Bangladesh needs to address systemic problems like corruption and the rise of extremism, and that he would encourage the BDG to form a National Human Rights Commission to address Ahmadiyya and other minority issues. ¶4. (SBU) The Roman Catholic Primate of Bangladesh, Archbishop Paulinus Costa, stated that he felt that, in general, the Bangladeshi Muslim majority respects the rights of religious minorities but there are pockets of "rascals" who claim to be Muslims but have no true religious identity or agenda and are just looking to cause trouble. He said that when this happens, he finds the government willing to act to protect minority rights. He also said that many of the problems facing the Catholic population -- about 450,000 individuals out of a population of 140 million -- are similar to the difficulties faced by tribal populations in other parts of the world, including land disputes and the lack of access to education. Mr. Crowley told the Archbishop that he would thank the PM for the BDG,s support and encourage her to do more to uphold religious pluralism. ¶5. (U) This cable was cleared by Representative Crowley. CHAMMAS