Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07DHAKA299
2007-02-25 08:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dhaka
Cable title:
CODEL CHABOT MEETS WITH HASINA AND ZIA
how-toVZCZCXRO6988 RR RUEHCI DE RUEHKA #0299/01 0560817 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 250817Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3286 INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 9666 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1510 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 8944 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 7791 RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 2513 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 000299
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL BG
SUBJECT: CODEL CHABOT MEETS WITH HASINA AND ZIA
Classified By: Ambassador Patricia Butenis, reason para 1.4 d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 000299
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL BG
SUBJECT: CODEL CHABOT MEETS WITH HASINA AND ZIA
Classified By: Ambassador Patricia Butenis, reason para 1.4 d.
1. (C) SUMMARY. Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia reiterated to
Congressman Chabot their desire for prompt elections,
supported anti-corruption in principle but objected to the
mechanics of the current campaign, complained the government
ignores them, maintained party reform is already underway,
and expressed concern about the removal of their special
protective details. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) On February 22, Congressman Steven Chabot, the
Ambassador,and econoff (notetaker) held separate meetings
with Sheikh Hasina, President of the Awami League, and
Khaleda Zia, chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
Also present with Hasina were party General Secretary Abdul
Jalil, Political Secretary Saber Hossain Chowdhury, and
International Affairs Secretary Syed Abul Hossain. Zia was
accompanied by former Foreign Minister Morshed Khan, Foreign
Affairs Advisor Reaz Rahman, and party Joint Secretary
General Nazrul Islam Khan.
ELECTIONS
--------------
3. (C) Hasina and Zia agreed that elections should happen
sooner rather than later, and called for a firm election
timetable as soon as possible. Hasina focused on elections
no later than 120 days from the start of the State of
Emergency, which means by May 12, and hoped the fully
reconstituted Election Commission would begin work
immediately to meet that deadline. She supported a voter
list with photographs over a national ID card since the
latter would take much longer to produce. Zia talked about
an approximately six-month timeframe for elections.
CORRUPTION
--------------
4. (C) Both leaders asserted that corrupt people should be
jailed, that with proper proof they would kick corrupt
persons out of their parties, but complained that detainees
are being subjected to brutality and torture. Hasina
maintained that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party is the true
home of corruption, and that the Awami League members under
arrest are scapegoats for balance. Hasina stressed the need
to pull in the "big fish," the top leaders associated with
corruption, and complained that the Anti-Corruption
Commission had promised not to arrest persons providing
requested financial information but that some persons were
nevertheless arrested upon leaving the Commission's office.
Zia called the process flawed because arrests precede
investigations and the filing of charges. She also said she
wanted to see a final list of those to be arrested so that
everybody else could get back to business without fear or
pressure.
NO CONTACT WITH GOVERNMENT
--------------
5. (C) Hasina and Zia objected that the government is not
engaging them on virtually any matter. Zia also criticized
the slum demolition and street hawker eviction programs,
estimating that 350,000 people have been displaced.
PARTY REFORM
--------------
6. (C) Both parties claimed to be already undertaking
internal reform but had few details to offer. Hasina said
reform is a continuing process under her party's constitution
with each party sub-committee responsible for reform in its
own area. Zia referred without elaboration to
"soul-searching" underway in her party.
SECURITY
--------------
7. (C) Both ladies expressed concern at the imminent removal
of their Special Security Force protective details. (NOTE:
We have heard that this is meant to help "encourage" them to
leave the country. The protective details were removed
several hours after the meetings. END NOTE) Hasina recalled
that she and her senior leaders had been attacked with
grenades in 2004, alleged that the terrorist group Jamaatul
Mujahidin Bangladesh was linked to the Bangladesh Nationalist
Party, and that the failure to investigate properly the
murder of senior party leader Shah Kibria perpetuated the
DHAKA 00000299 002 OF 002
climate of impunity for political violence.
8. (U) Mr. Chabot cleared the substance of this cable prior
to his departure.
BUTENIS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL BG
SUBJECT: CODEL CHABOT MEETS WITH HASINA AND ZIA
Classified By: Ambassador Patricia Butenis, reason para 1.4 d.
1. (C) SUMMARY. Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia reiterated to
Congressman Chabot their desire for prompt elections,
supported anti-corruption in principle but objected to the
mechanics of the current campaign, complained the government
ignores them, maintained party reform is already underway,
and expressed concern about the removal of their special
protective details. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) On February 22, Congressman Steven Chabot, the
Ambassador,and econoff (notetaker) held separate meetings
with Sheikh Hasina, President of the Awami League, and
Khaleda Zia, chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
Also present with Hasina were party General Secretary Abdul
Jalil, Political Secretary Saber Hossain Chowdhury, and
International Affairs Secretary Syed Abul Hossain. Zia was
accompanied by former Foreign Minister Morshed Khan, Foreign
Affairs Advisor Reaz Rahman, and party Joint Secretary
General Nazrul Islam Khan.
ELECTIONS
--------------
3. (C) Hasina and Zia agreed that elections should happen
sooner rather than later, and called for a firm election
timetable as soon as possible. Hasina focused on elections
no later than 120 days from the start of the State of
Emergency, which means by May 12, and hoped the fully
reconstituted Election Commission would begin work
immediately to meet that deadline. She supported a voter
list with photographs over a national ID card since the
latter would take much longer to produce. Zia talked about
an approximately six-month timeframe for elections.
CORRUPTION
--------------
4. (C) Both leaders asserted that corrupt people should be
jailed, that with proper proof they would kick corrupt
persons out of their parties, but complained that detainees
are being subjected to brutality and torture. Hasina
maintained that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party is the true
home of corruption, and that the Awami League members under
arrest are scapegoats for balance. Hasina stressed the need
to pull in the "big fish," the top leaders associated with
corruption, and complained that the Anti-Corruption
Commission had promised not to arrest persons providing
requested financial information but that some persons were
nevertheless arrested upon leaving the Commission's office.
Zia called the process flawed because arrests precede
investigations and the filing of charges. She also said she
wanted to see a final list of those to be arrested so that
everybody else could get back to business without fear or
pressure.
NO CONTACT WITH GOVERNMENT
--------------
5. (C) Hasina and Zia objected that the government is not
engaging them on virtually any matter. Zia also criticized
the slum demolition and street hawker eviction programs,
estimating that 350,000 people have been displaced.
PARTY REFORM
--------------
6. (C) Both parties claimed to be already undertaking
internal reform but had few details to offer. Hasina said
reform is a continuing process under her party's constitution
with each party sub-committee responsible for reform in its
own area. Zia referred without elaboration to
"soul-searching" underway in her party.
SECURITY
--------------
7. (C) Both ladies expressed concern at the imminent removal
of their Special Security Force protective details. (NOTE:
We have heard that this is meant to help "encourage" them to
leave the country. The protective details were removed
several hours after the meetings. END NOTE) Hasina recalled
that she and her senior leaders had been attacked with
grenades in 2004, alleged that the terrorist group Jamaatul
Mujahidin Bangladesh was linked to the Bangladesh Nationalist
Party, and that the failure to investigate properly the
murder of senior party leader Shah Kibria perpetuated the
DHAKA 00000299 002 OF 002
climate of impunity for political violence.
8. (U) Mr. Chabot cleared the substance of this cable prior
to his departure.
BUTENIS