BNP ATTEMPTS TO DIVERT ATTENTION FROM CORRUPTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 001346 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/PB AND CA/OCS DEPT PLEASE PASS TO PEACE CORPS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/24/2018 TAGS: ASEC BG CASC KDEM PGOV PHUM PINR PINS PREL SUBJECT: BNP ATTEMPTS TO DIVERT ATTENTION FROM CORRUPTION STORIES BY DECRYING ALLEGED PLOT AGAINST KHALEDA ZIA REF: DHAKA 1345 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Geeta Pasi. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) SUMMARY ======== ¶1. (C) As the parliamentary election campaign enters its final days, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party is attempting to divert attention away from a corruption scandal involving Chairperson Khaleda Zia's younger son by decrying an alleged plot against the party's leader. Hours after Zia had addressed a campaign rally in Comilla District December 23, the Rapid Action Battalion arrested two operatives of the banned extremist group Jama'atul Mujahideen and seized crude improvised explosive devices from a safe house 2 miles away from the rally site. The BNP was quick to claim extremists had been plotting to attack her, and the party hastily called for nationwide protests December 24. As of midday on the 24th, BNP supporters had organized scattered protests, with additional demonstrations planned for later in the day. Undeterred by the alleged threat, Khaleda Zia continued her campaign outside Dhaka, as did her rival Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, who left the capital early in the day for campaign stops in northern Bangladesh. BNP Attempts to Wag the Dog =========================== ¶2. (C) Hours after news broke of an encounter between security forces and militants in the vicinity of a recently concluded political rally on December 23, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia announced that she had been the target of an assassination plot. Later in the evening, the BNP announced plans to hold nationwide protests the following day. Newspaper headlines the morning of December 24 carried Zia's claims that the militants had planned to bomb her rally. Zia claimed those behind the alleged attack feared a BNP victory and were intent upon preventing her from returning to power. ¶3. (C) As details of the December 23 incident emerged, it became apparent the BNP had decided to exploit the incident for political purposes. The BNP's protest call appeared intended to motivate party supporters to rally around the Chairperson. Conveniently, the incident also bumped the story of Zia's youngest son's involvement in the Siemens corruption scandal. Local newspapers had led the previous day with allegations that Koko had siphoned millions of dollars into bank accounts in Singapore, including payments from Siemens for favorable treatment in a cellular phone tender. What Happened in Comilla? ========================= ¶4. (C) Bangladeshi law enforcement contacts have reported that two Jama'atul Mujahideen (JMB) operatives were arrested in the village of Nabiabad in Comilla's Devidwar sub-district December 23. The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) raided a JMB hideout in the village acting on information developed in other investigations. During the raid, the militants threw crude homemade grenades at the RAB officers, wounding one. One JMB operative was injured in the ensuing firefight. (Note: initial reports on December 23 had erroneously claimed one militant had been killed). RAB officers have begun interrogating the two suspects and are defusing the IEDs, including a 10kg bomb. ¶5. (C) The RAB raid took place two hours after Khaleda Zia had departed the scene of a rally in the vicinity of Nabiabad. Police tell us Zia was never in danger, and the encounter took place 4 km away from the rally venue. At the same time, Zia's security personnel have claimed they were warned to avoid the rally venue and have told us they altered her program in response to these warnings. Awami League (AL) sources told us they were also warned about a possible attack December 23. We continue to press counterparts for additional information about the incident and any threats against the two political leaders. BNP Protests Begin; Campaign Continues ====================================== ¶6. (C) Isolated protests against the alleged plot took place late December 23, centered around Dhaka University. At midday December 24, BNP Secretary General Khondker Delwar DHAKA 00001346 002 OF 002 Hossain demanded during a press conference that the GOB step up security for Khaleda Zia. The BNP thanked security personnel for providing a timely warning that "saved Khaleda's life." The BNP planned to hold additional protests/processions throughout the country December 24, including a march in Dhaka late in the day. Thus far, there have not been any incidents. BNP has also announced plans to hold additional protests December 27. The EAC met early December 24 to review Embassy security and threats against American citizens and personnel (reftel). ¶7. (C) Despite the alleged threat, both Khaleda Zia and AL President Sheikh Hasina went ahead with planned campaign appearances outside Dhaka December 24. Zia addressed supporters in Feni District and denied reports the BNP might withdraw from the elections. Zia said the party would not withdraw from elections it would win. For her part, Hasina left Dhaka early in the day for campaign rallies in northern Bangladesh. Throughout the campaign, Hasina has maintained a lower profile because of security concerns, relying instead on video conferencing to campaign outside Dhaka. Comment ======= ¶8. (C) Thus far, the parliamentary campaign has proceeded peacefully without any major incidents. Many observers had feared the impact of attempts by extremist groups to disrupt the election by attacking campaign events or candidates. For several hours late December 23 it appeared as if these fears had come true. Overnight, however, it became apparent that the threat to Khaleda Zia had been exaggerated. With three days of campaigning remaining, we will continue to monitor the security situation closely and urge all sides to act responsibly to create conditions for free, fair, and credible elections. MORIARTY