HOME SECRETARY ON SHEIKH HASINA, KHALEDA ZIA, AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 000656 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2017 TAGS: PHUM KDEM PREL KCRM PGOV BG SUBJECT: HOME SECRETARY ON SHEIKH HASINA, KHALEDA ZIA, AND HUMAN AND LABOR RIGHTS REF: DHAKA 0546 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Geeta Pasi; Reason 1.4(d) ¶1. (C) On the heels of a brief April 18 introductory call by the New Delhi based Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Legal Attache, the Home Secretary touched on Sheikh Hasina,s imminent return, rumors about Khaleda Zia,s imminent departure and continuing allegations of death and abuse attributed to the military and civil authorities. ¶2. (U) The Deputy Chief of Mission accompanied Kathy Stearman, New Delhi based Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Legal Attache, on the latter,s introductory call on Home Secretary Abdul Karim. Assistant Legal Attache, Steve Merrill, poloff (notetaker) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Additional Secretary Mohammad Mohsin and Joint Secretary Mojibur Rahman were also present. The call was SIPDIS abbreviated due to the extremely tardy arrival of the Home Secretary. After a brief introduction by the Legatt on the SIPDIS FBI,s regional responsibilities, she noted the FBI has a procedure in place to allow for assistance in certain cases. The Home Secretary said he would let us know through the police channels if FBI assistance is sought. ¶3. (C) Mr. Karim said that the United National Development Program Police Reform Project and the GOB are working to improve the quality of the Bangladesh police. He said they need to improve their investigative capacity citing the "zero tolerance against corruption." He added that the GOB intended to recover funds taken through corrupt practices and foreshadowed a future request for U.S. assistance. ¶4. (C) Sheikh Hasina: The DCM asked about Sheikh Hasina's return to Bangladesh, noting that while government officials were quoted in the press saying she was free to return, there were many rumors suggesting that she might not return. Karim said Hasina will be London tomorrow and will "come here on the 23rd." In response to Awami League concerns, he noted that she would be provided adequate security upon return. NOTE: On the heels of meeting, we learned that the Home Ministry had announced measures to prevent the return of Sheikh Hasina to Bangladesh. During our visit, Karim did not disclose this impending announcement nor ask for U.S. assistance to keep Hasina out of Bangladesh. ¶5. (C) Khaleda Zia: The Home Secretary said that Khaleda Zia "will go to Saudi Arabia, first to perform Umrah, and then remain there." (NOTE: Umrah is a religious rite.) With regard to her youngest son, Coco, Karim said "hopefully, he will go soon, too." He opined that Tarique Rahman "could leave, but it's the court's decision." ¶6. (C) Allegations of abuse and death in custody: The Home Secretary said the Government of Bangladesh was investigating SIPDIS allegations of abuse in custody -- whether by the military or the police. We noted that these incidents, if not dealt with transparently, will damage the reputation of the military and civilian authorities and undermine support for the caretaker government. ¶7. (C) Labor issues: We mentioned that US-funded labor advocacy groups had been visited by representatives of the Rapid Action Battalion and the police. Noting that the NGO division normally addresses NGO concerns -- not law enforcement authorities -- the Home Secretary promised to investigate. ¶8. (C) JMB: The Home Secretary touched on the assassination of a prosecutor involved in the trials that led to the recent execution of six JMB activists (reftel A). Initial reports suggest the prosecutors death was not a case of JMB retaliation but rather the end of a family feud. ¶9. (C) Trafficking: We also touched on trafficking issues with Additional Secretary Mohsin prior to the delayed arrival of the Home Secretary. We urged the MHA to prosecute unlicensed recruiting middlemen and recruiters who charge fees above the set rate and collect statistics on these prosecutions. BUTENIS