BOMBLETS EXPLODE IN THREE BANGLADESH CITIES

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 000716 SIPDIS SIPDIS TERREP DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/NEA-SCA, DS/IP/ITA, DSERCC E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2017 TAGS: PTER KDEM PHUM ASEC PGOV BG SUBJECT: BOMBLETS EXPLODE IN THREE BANGLADESH CITIES REF: A. TD-314/34180-07 ¶B. TD-314/34447-07 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Geeta Pasi; Reason 1.4(d) ¶1. (SBU) On the morning of May 1, three small devices exploded within minutes of each other near railroad stations in the cities of Sylhet, Chittagong, and Dhaka. Police told us that one rickshaw driver was seriously injured in Chittagong and a small boy sustained minor injuries in Sylhet. ¶2. (C) Police said they found a metal plate attached to the Dhaka bomb which said that the Ahmadiya sect of Islam should accept the Prophet Mohammed as the last prophet, and all NGOs supporting them should stop their activities by May 10. It was signed "Zadid Al Aqaeda" or "the new Al-Qaeda." Police told us they found paper leaflets at the other sites with a similar message but with a possible different group, "Hal Khata," claiming responsibility. ¶3. (SBU) Several local NGOs, Nijera Kori, ASK, Odikhar, and the Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association (BNWLA), focus on monitoring the Ahmadiyas from the human rights perspective conducting investigations on attacks on Ahmadiya and arranging press briefings to call for government action to protect the rights of this religion minority. The NGOs told us they are concerned about the explosions but threats are not new to them. ¶4. (C) The Inspector General of Police told us that he instructed his forces to be vigilant for possible attacks against major NGOs like BRAC, PROSHIKA, and GRAMEEN. In February 2005, small explosive devices, later attributed to Jamaat-ul Mujahedin Bangladesh (JMB),exploded at BRAC and GRAMEEN offices. These attacks presaged later and deadlier JMB attacks in the fall of 2005. ¶5. (C) Ahmadiya representative Ahmad Tabshir Choudhury told us that, while aware of the press reports that the explosions contained warnings for them, the Ahmadiyas are not sure they are the real target of the explosions. While we are concerned about our safety, Choudhury said, "We urge the government to find the perpetrators. Bombs kill everyone, not just Ahmadiyas." ¶6. (C) Comment: Reftels report liaison assessment of the blasts. JMB threats of reprisals when six major senior leaders were executed on March 29, failed to materialize, perhaps because of the continuing arrests of JMB activists since December. The perpetrators and actual motives of the May 1 blasts are unclear, but we are encouraged that the GOB appears to be taking the matter seriously. BUTENIS