Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07DHAKA956
2007-06-13 08:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dhaka
Cable title:
UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR FACES CORRUPTION CHARGES
how-toVZCZCXRO3763 RR RUEHCI DE RUEHKA #0956 1640831 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 130831Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4288 INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 9953 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1692 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 9130 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 7963 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 0788 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI
C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 000956
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE/G/TIP FOR SALLY NEUMANN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2017
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KWMN PHUM BG
SUBJECT: UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR FACES CORRUPTION CHARGES
Classified By: DCM Geeta Pasi, reason para 1.4(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 000956
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE/G/TIP FOR SALLY NEUMANN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2017
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KWMN PHUM BG
SUBJECT: UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR FACES CORRUPTION CHARGES
Classified By: DCM Geeta Pasi, reason para 1.4(d)
1. (SBU) SUMMARY. On June 7, police filed corruption charged
against Sigma Huda, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on
Trafficking in Persons and the head of two prominent
Bangladeshi non-governmental organization. Huda's husband, a
former minister, was arrested in January on corruption
charges, while Sigma is being investigated for allegedly
involving NGOs in illegal deals. She has been barred from
leaving Bangladesh because authorities say she is a flight
risk. END SUMMARY.
SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS
===================
2. (SBU) Sigma Huda, a prominent Bangladeshi lawyer and the
wife of former Bangladesh Nationalist Party Communications
Minister Nazrul Huda, has been charged with corruption and
barred from leaving the country. According to press
accounts, Sigma, in her capacity as publisher of a news
magazine, received three checks amounting to 240 million taka
($3.6 million) from a contractor of the Roads and Highway
Department, which was part of her husband's ministry. Police
filed charges against her on June 7. Nazrul Huda, who was
imprisoned in the first anti-corruption sweep in late
January, is facing additional charges, including abuse of
power and receiving kickbacks from the sale of
government-owned property. Sigma is also under investigation
for participating in some of these deals.
A PROMINENT ACTIVIST
====================
3. (SBU) Sigma is the secretary general of the Bangladesh
Society for the Enforcement of Human Rights (BSEHR) and is
the president of the Bangladesh National Women Lawyers
Association (BNWLA). The two organizations are among the most
prominent anti-trafficking and human rights NGOs in
Bangladesh. In 2004, Sigma was appointed to a three-year term
as UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons. Since
the allegations against her were raised, she has not been
active with either organization.
STANDS ACCUSED OF INVOLVING NGO'S IN CORRUPT DEALS
============================================= ======
4. (C) One of the charges being prepared against Nazrul Huda
claims he received kickbacks for allocating land owned by
Bangladesh Railways (which he oversaw in his position as
Communications Minister) to BSEHR. The second NGO, BNWLA,
claimed Sigma tried several times to involve them in suspect
deals, but they resisted. A senior official at BNWLA told
POLOFF they were "relieved" she is no longer active with the
organization.
CONSIDERED A FLIGHT RISK
========================
5. (SBU) Huda was scheduled to attend a UN conference in
Geneva in mid-June. Because of the charges against her, the
government has declared her a flight risk and barred her from
leaving the country.
6. (SBU) Post will continue to monitor developments in this
case closely.
BUTENIS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE/G/TIP FOR SALLY NEUMANN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2017
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KWMN PHUM BG
SUBJECT: UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR FACES CORRUPTION CHARGES
Classified By: DCM Geeta Pasi, reason para 1.4(d)
1. (SBU) SUMMARY. On June 7, police filed corruption charged
against Sigma Huda, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on
Trafficking in Persons and the head of two prominent
Bangladeshi non-governmental organization. Huda's husband, a
former minister, was arrested in January on corruption
charges, while Sigma is being investigated for allegedly
involving NGOs in illegal deals. She has been barred from
leaving Bangladesh because authorities say she is a flight
risk. END SUMMARY.
SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS
===================
2. (SBU) Sigma Huda, a prominent Bangladeshi lawyer and the
wife of former Bangladesh Nationalist Party Communications
Minister Nazrul Huda, has been charged with corruption and
barred from leaving the country. According to press
accounts, Sigma, in her capacity as publisher of a news
magazine, received three checks amounting to 240 million taka
($3.6 million) from a contractor of the Roads and Highway
Department, which was part of her husband's ministry. Police
filed charges against her on June 7. Nazrul Huda, who was
imprisoned in the first anti-corruption sweep in late
January, is facing additional charges, including abuse of
power and receiving kickbacks from the sale of
government-owned property. Sigma is also under investigation
for participating in some of these deals.
A PROMINENT ACTIVIST
====================
3. (SBU) Sigma is the secretary general of the Bangladesh
Society for the Enforcement of Human Rights (BSEHR) and is
the president of the Bangladesh National Women Lawyers
Association (BNWLA). The two organizations are among the most
prominent anti-trafficking and human rights NGOs in
Bangladesh. In 2004, Sigma was appointed to a three-year term
as UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons. Since
the allegations against her were raised, she has not been
active with either organization.
STANDS ACCUSED OF INVOLVING NGO'S IN CORRUPT DEALS
============================================= ======
4. (C) One of the charges being prepared against Nazrul Huda
claims he received kickbacks for allocating land owned by
Bangladesh Railways (which he oversaw in his position as
Communications Minister) to BSEHR. The second NGO, BNWLA,
claimed Sigma tried several times to involve them in suspect
deals, but they resisted. A senior official at BNWLA told
POLOFF they were "relieved" she is no longer active with the
organization.
CONSIDERED A FLIGHT RISK
========================
5. (SBU) Huda was scheduled to attend a UN conference in
Geneva in mid-June. Because of the charges against her, the
government has declared her a flight risk and barred her from
leaving the country.
6. (SBU) Post will continue to monitor developments in this
case closely.
BUTENIS