Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07DHAKA460
2007-03-20 10:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dhaka
Cable title:
BANGLADESH GOVERNMENT RENEWS RIHS REGISTRATION
how-toVZCZCXRO0122 PP RUEHCI DE RUEHKA #0460 0791021 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 201021Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3552 INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1551 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 9743 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 7831 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 8989 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1655 RUEHKU/AMEMBASSY KUWAIT 0239 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0676 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0309 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 000460
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2017
TAGS: PTER KCRM PGOV PREL BG
SUBJECT: BANGLADESH GOVERNMENT RENEWS RIHS REGISTRATION
REF: DHAKA 0446
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 000460
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2017
TAGS: PTER KCRM PGOV PREL BG
SUBJECT: BANGLADESH GOVERNMENT RENEWS RIHS REGISTRATION
REF: DHAKA 0446
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Geeta Pasi; Reason 1.4(d)
1. (SBU) On March 20, NGO Affairs Bureau Assistant Director
A.K.M. Humanyun Kabir confirmed to us that his agency had
renewed the registration of the Revival of Islamic Heritage
Society (RIHS) after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) gave
its concurrence (reftel). Kabir said that the GOB never
banned RIHS activities for even a temporary period, and
described press reports to the contrary as untrue. He added
that MOHA cleared the renewal of RIHS's registration after
investigating their activities in the wake of press reports
linking the Kuwait-based NGO to the banned terrorist group
Jamaatul Mujahidin Bangladesh (JMB).
2. (C) Comment: Throughout 2006, senior officials of the then
ruling government assured us that RIHS was being shut down in
Bangladesh as an example of Bangladeshi support for the GWOT
and because RIHS had financed religious projects associated
with a senior JMB figure. The Sudanese office director was
obliged to leave Bangladesh, accounts were temporarily
frozen, and the RIHS office in Dhaka assumed a lower profile,
although it never completely closed. As soon as other
sponsors were found for RIHS charitable projects, we were
told, the RIHS presence in Bangladesh would be terminated.
The registration renewal of RIHS is disappointing, especially
since the new government had identified counterterrorism as a
top policy priority. We will convey our disappointment to
appropriate GOB officials, request GOB reconsideration of
this issue, and report subsequent developments.
BUTENIS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2017
TAGS: PTER KCRM PGOV PREL BG
SUBJECT: BANGLADESH GOVERNMENT RENEWS RIHS REGISTRATION
REF: DHAKA 0446
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Geeta Pasi; Reason 1.4(d)
1. (SBU) On March 20, NGO Affairs Bureau Assistant Director
A.K.M. Humanyun Kabir confirmed to us that his agency had
renewed the registration of the Revival of Islamic Heritage
Society (RIHS) after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) gave
its concurrence (reftel). Kabir said that the GOB never
banned RIHS activities for even a temporary period, and
described press reports to the contrary as untrue. He added
that MOHA cleared the renewal of RIHS's registration after
investigating their activities in the wake of press reports
linking the Kuwait-based NGO to the banned terrorist group
Jamaatul Mujahidin Bangladesh (JMB).
2. (C) Comment: Throughout 2006, senior officials of the then
ruling government assured us that RIHS was being shut down in
Bangladesh as an example of Bangladeshi support for the GWOT
and because RIHS had financed religious projects associated
with a senior JMB figure. The Sudanese office director was
obliged to leave Bangladesh, accounts were temporarily
frozen, and the RIHS office in Dhaka assumed a lower profile,
although it never completely closed. As soon as other
sponsors were found for RIHS charitable projects, we were
told, the RIHS presence in Bangladesh would be terminated.
The registration renewal of RIHS is disappointing, especially
since the new government had identified counterterrorism as a
top policy priority. We will convey our disappointment to
appropriate GOB officials, request GOB reconsideration of
this issue, and report subsequent developments.
BUTENIS