AMBASSADOR CALLS ON CHIEF ADVISER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 000157

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV BG
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR CALLS ON CHIEF ADVISER

REF: A. STATE 04128

B. DHAKA 083

Classified By: Ambassador Patricia Butenis, reason para 1.4 b


1. (C) Summary. Chief Adviser Ahmed smoothly made the
government's case for far-reaching reforms as a prelude to
"free, fair, and credible elections." He acknowledged some
"excesses" during the government's mass detentions, but urged
the U.S. to focus instead on the instant corrective action
the government took as a result. End Summary.


2. (SBU) On January 29, the Ambassador and polchief (note
taker) called on government Chief Adviser Dr. Fakhruddin
Ahmed. Acting Foreign Secretary Touhid Hussain and two
government press officers sat in.


3. (SBU) Ahmed expressed appreciation for decades of
U.S.-Bangladeshi partnership, noting the U.S. has been a key
development partner of Bangladesh since 1971, that it is
Bangladesh's largest bilateral trading partner, and that it
remains the top choice for Bangladeshi students.


4. (C) The Ambassador stated the USG continues to support the
government and people of Bangladesh. The international
community had not sought or supported a state of emergency;
instead, its focus had been to press the political parties to
produce a successful election. The new government enjoys
broad support, but people expect it to create conditions for
successful elections as soon as possible. Its ambitious
reform agenda, she continued, is also popular, though some of
it, like economic development, might be better suited to an
elected administration. She encouraged the government to
reach out to the political parties to include them in the
reform process.


5. (C) There was "no alternative" to the January 11 change of
governments, Ahmed said. He described the government's
primary goal as elections as soon as possible, but they must
be "free, fair, and credible" (a mantra he repeated several
times). The people don't want an election that simply
reverts to politics as usual, he said. Another priority is
economic growth because without it, political reform cannot
prosper. "We're a caretaker government, but we're trying to
move forward within the constitution. We're faced with a
difficult situation concerning elections because we need good
governance to support the economy and a good economy to
support the election."


6. (C) On the election itself, Ahmed said, the government
wants "good, qualified, and honest" candidates, to "reduce"
illicit political money and thuggery, and to ensure security
for campaigning and polling day. Once the Election
Commission is reconstituted, the government will work with it
on these points. Asked when a new chief election
commissioner might be named, Ahmed pointed to the end of this
week. "If you support us, we will deliver the election
people want," he added. He assured the Ambassador that the
government will not stay in office "one day longer" than
necessary to hold good elections.


7. (C) Reiterating ref a demarche points originally conveyed
to Ahmed via letter (ref B),the Ambassador stressed USG
concerns about the government's broad emergency powers, the
constraints on press freedom, the need to respect due process
and end custodial deaths, and our hope that the emergency
powers could be rolled back soon to facilitate transparent,
accountable, and peaceful politicking and other lawful
activities.


8. (C) "There may have been some excesses," Ahmed
acknowledged, "but look at what we do in response." As an
example, he said when he saw in a local paper a picture of a
detainee suspended from a ceiling fan in a police station, he
called the Home Secretary to demand action, which led to the
instant suspension of the involved police officials and the
start of an investigation. He asserted support for a free
press, but in an emergency period it is important for the
press to "support" government actions.


9. (C) Ahmed agreed it was vital to reach out to the
political parties because they retain large constituencies,
but an even bigger constituency, he argued, is the ordinary
people who are counting on the government to seize this
opportunity to bolster democracy through improved governance.
Feedback to government advisers traveling throughout the
country has been outstanding, he said.


10. (C) The Ambassador closed by informing Ahmed that she

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would be leaving Bangladesh later this year to accept a
senior position at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. She stressed
that her departure did not signal any change in U.S. policy
and did not reflect on any recent events; rather, when she
had first been approached on this position last fall, her
expectation was she would leave well after the election and
the induction of a new government. Ahmed expressed regret
the Ambassador would be leaving after a relatively brief
tenure and wished her well in her new assignment.


11. (C) Comment: The chief adviser was smooth and
business-like in making the government's case for far
reaching reforms. During the 45-minute meeting, there was
not even an indirect reference to the military role in his
government's creation and operation.
BUTENIS