GOVERNMENT LACKING EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 001280 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2017 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL BG SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT LACKING EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY REF: DHAKA 951 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Geeta Pasi, reason 1.4(d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. The Chief Advisor,s Press Secretary laid out his communications strategy for the caretaker government and discussed the challenges of representing a technocratic and non-political government to the press. He was defensive on the issue of whether the government could be making its case in the press -- particularly the international press -- better, and asked if the Embassy had any recommendations about who the Chief Advisor should meet with when he attends the annual United Nations General Assembly meeting in September. END SUMMARY. A KEY AIDE TO THE CHIEF ADVISOR =============================== ¶2. (SBU) Syed Fahim Munaim ("Fahim") has been serving as Press Secretary to Chief Advisor Fakhruddin Ahmed since January 20. Formerly, he was a managing editor with the English-language newspaper, the Daily Star. He describes himself as one of the Chief Advisor,s closest aides. GOVERNMENT'S OUTREACH STRATEGY ============================== ¶3. (C) In a meeting on August 2, Fahim told POLOFF he was confident the government was doing everything it could to get its message out, but it could not respond to every criticism. Regarding the anti-corruption case currently being prosecuted against Awami League president and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Fahim said he felt confident the government,s side of the story was getting out. He added that the arrival of a new Bangladeshi Ambassador to the U.S. would make it easier to provide the Bangladesh government's perspective to U.S. audiences. ¶4. (C) Fahim described the government's communications strategy. He said the Chief Advisor speaks to the Bangladesh media frequently, though he has given only two interviews to international media. Fahim gives weekly press conferences and briefs journalists after advisory council meetings. ¶5. (C) Another element of the strategy involves visits throughout the country by the Chief Advisor to meet "the common people" and to be seen as supportive of their needs. He specifically cited the Chief Advisor,s visit to flood-ravaged areas in the north of the country the day before. When questioned, however, he admitted that Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U. Ahmed was also in the region and had not coordinated his visit with the Chief Advisor,s office. He also said security forces, providing protection, tried to keep press away from the Chief Advisor. (COMMENT: Police routinely keep press at bay, but this was supposed to be a media event for the Chief Advisor, and several journalists actually accompanied him on the trip.) SOME "COORDINATION" PROBLEMS REMAIN =================================== ¶6. (C) One of the problems with caretaker government,s messaging is the "independence" of two outspoken advisors, Law Advisor Mainul Hosein and Communications Advisor MA Matin. Both speak frequently to the press, often contradicting each other and the rest of the government. Both have given the media open access to their offices, whereas the Chief Advisor's office restricts press access. According to Fahim, the Chief Advisor has not complained to either Hosein or Matin about their statements. General Moeen did not coordinate his press appearances and speeches with the government, but Fahim said "no one will tell him not to speak." ¶7. (C) Fahim mentioned that the independent inquiry into the killing of a Garo activist in March (reftel),allegedly by the military, was nearly complete and a report would be forthcoming. He promised to share the findings with the Embassy. ¶8. (C) COMMENT. Fahim, one of the Chief Advisor's closest aides, seems tone-deaf when it comes to the media, and as a result the government is not getting credit for any successes, though it is being saddled with responsibility for the country's problems. He refused to acknowledge the DHAKA 00001280 002 OF 002 government has a negative image, and dismisses the need to increase the Chief Advisor's outreach and accessibility to journalists. This has created plenty of room for General Moeen to step into the limelight. END COMMENT. PASI