AMBASSADOR LAYS DOWN MARKER ON FORMATION OF HUJI-B

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 001078

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/PB AND S/CT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/15/2018
TAGS: PTER PINR PGOV KDEM ASEC PREL PHUM BG
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR LAYS DOWN MARKER ON FORMATION OF HUJI-B
OFFSHOOT "ISLAMIC DEMOCRATIC PARTY"

REF: A. DHAKA 1037

B. DHAKA 882

Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

SUMMARY
========


1. (S) The Ambassador conveyed to Bangladesh's outgoing
Counter Terrorism Director the USG's strong concerns about
efforts by Foreign Terrorist Organization HUJI-B to transform
itself into the "Islamic Democratic Party." While
emphasizing the importance of keeping potential extremist
groups above ground, the GOB representative promised to slow
efforts to allow the Party to register and to discuss the
issue further with USG counterparts.

Outgoing Counter Terrorism Head Meets with Ambassador
============================================= ========


2. (S) On his last day in office, outgoing Director of
Bangladesh's Counter Terrorism Bureau Brigadier General
A.T.M. Amin met with the Ambassador, Political/Economic
Counselor, and Regional Affairs Counselor on October 15.
Recently promoted to Major General and assigned as the
Director General of the paramilitary Ansars and Village
Defense Parties, Amin said that his promotion had been 7 - 8
months overdue. According to Amin, Chief Adviser Fakhruddin
Ahmed had objected to the idea of promoting Amin to be
Director General of the Directorate General of Forces
Intelligence (DGFI),since he did not want to make any
changes in that crucial position prior to elections.
Fakhruddin also thought that a new political government might
want to make a change in that position. There had been
discussion of sending Amin to be Division Commander in
Comilla, but that would keep him too far away from Dhaka.
Amin implied that his assignment to the Ansars would be
temporary, and he hinted he might return to DGFI as Director
General after elections or take over a newly created CT
agency (which he said he was developing). In the meantime,
Amin said he would continue his liaison role with foreign
embassies and would remain involved in CT issues as his
successor was brought up to speed.

Warning about Islamic Democratic Party
======================================


3. (S) Most of the discussion related to the recent
formation of the Islamic Democratic Party (IDP) by former
members of the banned Foreign Terrorist Organization, HUJI-B
(Ref A). At first, Amin attempted to defend the initiative
to bring the former HUJI-B members into the mainstream. The
Ambassador forcefully expressed USG concern about HUJI-B's
continued activities, in particular in conjunction with other
transnational terrorist groups. Amin claimed that DGFI
maintained tight surveillance on the IDP, but acknowledged
the need to move carefully. The Ambassador pointed out that
there could be problems in the future, if the IDP were ever
able to insinuate itself into the political process and form
alliances with other parties. We could then face the
possibility of the IDP having members of parliament or
cabinet ministers, using their power to obstruct counter
terrorism work..


4. (S) Amin promised to discuss this issue further with the
USG. In the meantime, he promised to talk with the Election
Commission regarding the IDP's registration. Amin commented
that the issue was still manageable and no irreparable harm
had been done. In passing, Amin also noted gadfly journalist
Shoaib Chowdhury (whose legal problems have been chronicled
in past Human Rights Reports and in Ref B) and Amcit Richard
Benkin's strange involvement with the IDP.

Comment and Action Request
==========================


5. (S) As we have done in previous meetings with Caretaker
Advisers, the Ambassador sent a strong message to Amin that
the USG would not support an attempt to legitimize HUJI-B
terrorists through the formation of the IDP. Amin understood
the Ambassador's point, and we will follow up with him and
others to continue to underscore the importance we attach to
this issue. As we proceed, we would welcome Dept's guidance

DHAKA 00001078 002 OF 002


on how the HUJI-B FTO Designation would apply to a likely
successor organization, like the Islamic Democratic Party.
Moriarty