Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07DHAKA43
2007-01-09 12:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dhaka
how-toVZCZCXRO3034 PP RUEHCI DE RUEHKA #0043 0091213 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 091213Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2952 INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1426 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 9545 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 7706 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 8860 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1583 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0624 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0263 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 000043
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/09/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV BG
SUBJECT: BANGABHABAN BLOCKADE
REF: DHAKA 33
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Geeta Pasi; Reason 1.4(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 000043
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/09/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV BG
SUBJECT: BANGABHABAN BLOCKADE
REF: DHAKA 33
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Geeta Pasi; Reason 1.4(d)
1. (SBU) The Awami League (AL) led alliance's nationwide
blockade entered its third and final day on January 9 with
the focus shifting to an attempted blockade of the
Presidential compound, Bangabhaban, located in southwest
Dhaka. In the early morning, scores of police and soldiers
surrounded Bangabhaban with several barbed wire covered
barriers to prevent protesters from approaching the compound.
Police stopped and dispersed 200 marchers heading to
Bangabhaban from the Fakirerpool neighborhood north of the
compound. Protesters threw stones and firecracker at police
and police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. At
other intersections leading to Bangabhaban police used clubs
to disperse hundreds of protesters. In all, an estimated
1,000 protesters gathered in various pockets surrounding
Bangabhaban and a dozen protesters reported injuries.
2. (SBU) In the evening of January 8 two small devices
exploded in the Diplomatic Enclave, one near the headquarters
of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the other near the
home of the former law minister Moudud Ahmed. The two-inch
by two-inch sized bomblets were designed more to make noise
than to wound. No one was hurt and the police received a
warning phone call in advance of the explosions.
3. (SBU) Chittagong observed the blockade program peacefully,
with AL-led alliance activists marching without police
interference. The port is officially open but effectively
non-operational with 21,000 containers jammed into an area
designed for 13,000 containers. In Sylhet and Khulna
alliance protesters marched without incident, while in
Rajshahi AL-led alliance demonstrators held a peacefully
observed rally.
4. (C) AL Organizing Secretary Sultan Muhammad Mansur Ahmed
told poloff that the AL and its allies will meet tonight to
consider plans which they will announce tomorrow at a rally
at the Paltan Maidan grounds near Bangabhaban in downtown
Dhaka. He said that additional political actions being
considered include another nationwide blockade from January
12 to 15, and a nationwide hartal from January 18 to 22
intended to prevent elections from taking place.
BUTENIS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/09/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV BG
SUBJECT: BANGABHABAN BLOCKADE
REF: DHAKA 33
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Geeta Pasi; Reason 1.4(d)
1. (SBU) The Awami League (AL) led alliance's nationwide
blockade entered its third and final day on January 9 with
the focus shifting to an attempted blockade of the
Presidential compound, Bangabhaban, located in southwest
Dhaka. In the early morning, scores of police and soldiers
surrounded Bangabhaban with several barbed wire covered
barriers to prevent protesters from approaching the compound.
Police stopped and dispersed 200 marchers heading to
Bangabhaban from the Fakirerpool neighborhood north of the
compound. Protesters threw stones and firecracker at police
and police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. At
other intersections leading to Bangabhaban police used clubs
to disperse hundreds of protesters. In all, an estimated
1,000 protesters gathered in various pockets surrounding
Bangabhaban and a dozen protesters reported injuries.
2. (SBU) In the evening of January 8 two small devices
exploded in the Diplomatic Enclave, one near the headquarters
of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the other near the
home of the former law minister Moudud Ahmed. The two-inch
by two-inch sized bomblets were designed more to make noise
than to wound. No one was hurt and the police received a
warning phone call in advance of the explosions.
3. (SBU) Chittagong observed the blockade program peacefully,
with AL-led alliance activists marching without police
interference. The port is officially open but effectively
non-operational with 21,000 containers jammed into an area
designed for 13,000 containers. In Sylhet and Khulna
alliance protesters marched without incident, while in
Rajshahi AL-led alliance demonstrators held a peacefully
observed rally.
4. (C) AL Organizing Secretary Sultan Muhammad Mansur Ahmed
told poloff that the AL and its allies will meet tonight to
consider plans which they will announce tomorrow at a rally
at the Paltan Maidan grounds near Bangabhaban in downtown
Dhaka. He said that additional political actions being
considered include another nationwide blockade from January
12 to 15, and a nationwide hartal from January 18 to 22
intended to prevent elections from taking place.
BUTENIS