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