INDIAN EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER VISITS BANGLADESH

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 001920

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/PB AND SCA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2017
TAGS: PREL EAID ECON EAGR BG
SUBJECT: INDIAN EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER VISITS BANGLADESH


Classified By: CDA a.i. Geeta Pasi, Reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (U) SUMMARY: Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab
Mukherjee December 2 visited cyclone-affected areas of
Bangladesh and met with government leaders to discuss
bilateral issues including trade, water-sharing and security.
Mukherjee announced a temporary waiver of India's ban on rice
exports to Bangladesh in light of the crop losses suffered
due to Cyclone Sidr. He also invited Bangladesh Foreign
Adviser Iftekhar Chowdhury to the South Asian Association for
Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Forum in New Delhi April 3-4.
END SUMMARY


2. (C) A/DCM and ConOff (note taker) met with Sanjeev Singla
(protect),first secretary at the Indian High Commission in
Dhaka, to discuss the December 2 visit to Bangladesh by
Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee. Singla
reported that during the day-long trip, Mukherjee visited
some of the areas worst hit by the cyclone, and observed the
delivery of 36 metric tons of Indian-donated relief goods.
In response to a Government of Bangladesh (GOB) appeal for
food, Mukherjee announced that India would waive temporarily
its ban on rice exports to Bangladesh to allow the sale of
500,000 metric tons for post-cyclone emergencies. Singla
could not confirm that this figure would include purchases
from India by other international donors, but believed it
would. The External Affairs Minister also announced that
India would fund the reconstruction of ten coastal villages.
Singla noted that there had been considerable debate in India
over whether to extend a lifeline to Bangladesh prior to
Mukherjee's announcement of India's aid package. Singla also
stated that food donations from India had been delayed
because the GOB was slow to clear Indian naval vessels into
Bangladesh waters and because of logistical barriers at the
Port of Chittagong.


3. (C) External Affairs Minister Mukherjee met with
Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury
to discuss a series of outstanding issues, including trade
imbalance, water-sharing and security. Mukherjee announced
India will import 2 million pieces of ready-made garments
from Bangladesh duty-free, and he invited the Foreign Affairs
Adviser to attend the SAARC Forum in April in New Delhi. Due
to a last-minute cancellation, Mukherjee was unable to meet
with Army Chief General Moeen. Singla said that the Army
Chief is tentatively scheduled to visit India in February,
however.


4. (C) According to Singla, the External Affairs Minister
and Foreign Adviser agreed that neither country should
provide sanctuary to terrorist or insurgent groups. However,
Singla indicated that India was not satisfied with the GOB's
cooperation on counterterrorism, and stated that USG
assistance in persuading the GOB to be more responsive would
be helpful. Specifically, India had asked for individuals
wanted on terrorism charges in India to be handed over to New
Delhi, in exchange for Bangladeshi fugitives in India. The
GOB maintained that there were no such individuals in
Bangladesh.


5. (C) First Secretary Singla probed A/DCM about possible
discontent with the senior ranks of the Bangladeshi Army.
Singla cited a Division Commanders' meeting several weeks
ago, in which senior officers allegedly expressed
dissatisfaction with General Moeen's handling of political
developments. (COMMENT: While we are aware that some senior
military officials do not fully support General Moeen, we do
not have any indication that there has been an increase in
discontent. END COMMENT.)


6. (C) COMMENT: The Indian External Affairs Minister's
visit, the result of an invitation extended on the margins of
the November 23-25 Commonwealth Summit in Kampala, Uganda,
was put together quickly. According to Singla, the GOB did
not expect the External Affairs Minister to take up the
invitation so soon. Mukherjee hails from West Bengal, which
borders Bangladesh to the west.
Pasi