INSPECTOR GENERAL OF PRISONS DISCUSSES THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 000327

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KGOV KDEM BG
SUBJECT: INSPECTOR GENERAL OF PRISONS DISCUSSES THE
CHALLENGES OF HOLDING HIGH-PROFILE DETAINEES

REF: A. 07 DHAKA 1584


B. DHAKA 250

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Geeta Pasi; reasons 1.4(d)


1. (C) SUMMARY. In a recent meeting, the Inspector General of
Prisons discussed with POLOFF the health conditions of the
two jailed former prime ministers. He also said he was
trying to arrange for Sigma Huda, a prominent human rights
activist, to be transferred back to the hospital for further
treatment. He expressed frustration at the limitations under
which he was working -- particularly the lack of secure
hospital beds with adequate guard coverage for prisoners, and
the lack of guards to provide protection for the numerous
high-profile prisoners in his custody. END SUMMARY.

HASINA, ZIA DISPLAY DIFFERENT ATTITUDES BEHIND BARS
============================================= ======


2. (C) Recently, POLOFF met the Inspector General of Police
(IGP),Brigadier General Md Zakir Hassan, to discuss ongoing
issues related to the detention of prisoners under the state
of emergency. Hassan was appointed to the position of IGP
in 2006 and has undertaken major reforms of the prison system
over the past year. (Reftel A) In his capacity, he is
responsible for the 67 prisons throughout Bangladesh, as well
as the special sub-jails in Dhaka created for the two
arrested former prime ministers and the secure medical
facilities at the Post-Graduate (PG) Hospital, one of the
largest public hospitals in Dhaka.


3. (C) The IGP told POLOFF he had visited former prime
ministers Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia several times, most
recently two days earlier. During Hasina's corruption trial,
which is currently suspended for legal reasons, the judge
excused Hasina from the proceedings after she suffered an
attack of vertigo brought on by high blood pressure. The IGP
said the treatment for this type of medical condition is bed
rest and medication. He thought Hasina was more
psychologically distraught than physically ill, though he
admitted her nerves were likely a contributing factor to her
blood pressure.


4. (C) The IGP said he has tried to accommodate Hasina's
wishes regarding her medical care, though it is up to the
government, not the prison system, to decide on whether to
send her abroad for treatment. When the IGP has brought in
prominent Dhaka doctors of his choosing to examine Hasina --
to provide what he called an "objective" assessment of her
condition -- she has refused to see them. In addition,
Hasina has been allowed to see doctors of her choosing for
various ailments. To the frustration of the IGP, these
doctors have tended to speak to the press after leaving
Hasina, often making political statements and allegedly
exaggerating her condition. (NOTE: On March 11, Hasina agreed
to go to a private hospital to be examined by a panel of
physicians to determine whether recurrent ear ailments -- the
result of an August 2004 assassination attempt -- required
treatment abroad. The doctors, who were chosen by Hasina,
reportedly recommended unanimously she be permitted to travel
to the US for treatment, saying she risked permanent hearing
damage if she did not receive proper care soon. The prison
authorities said they would pass the recommendation to the
government for further action. END NOTE.)


5. (C) Khaleda Zia, on the other hand, is far less demanding,
though seemingly in more pain, according to the IGP. She
suffers from acute arthritis, particularly in the knees, and
recently her elbow has swelled up, preventing her from
bending her arm. She has also suffered toothaches that have
left her in severe pain. Like Hasina, Zia is attended by
doctors of her choosing, but she has not demanded outside
treatment.


6. (C) The IGP assured POLOFF attorneys for both high-profile
defendants are permitted access to their clients, though they
have to apply in advance through the Home Ministry's Special
Branch of Police.


DHAKA 00000327 002 OF 002


CONTINUED FRUSTRATION OVER SIGMA HUDA
=====================================


7. (C) The IGP expressed frustration over the Sigma Huda
situation. Sigma, a UN Rapporteur on Anti-Trafficking and a
prominent human rights activist, has been charged with
several counts of extortion. She is appealing her conviction
on one set of charges and currently is undergoing trial in
another case. The IGP said there was no doubt Sigma was
unwell -- she suffers from heart and kidney ailments as well
as diabetes -- but the entire prison system, with over 87,000
inmates, is serviced by only sixteen hospital beds at PG
Hospital. Sigma was moved back to the VIP section of the
Dhaka Central Jail because there were other prisoners who
required more immediate attention than she did. (Reftel B)


8. (C) According to the IGP, the prison system does not have
enough guards to move ill prisoners into private hospitals,
and Sigma could not be treated at home unless the court
grants her bail -- a decision beyond the IGP's purview. The
IGP said that only the day before, a regular prisoner being
treated in an unsecured room at PG Hospital for an emergency
managed to escape from his two guards. The prisoner had been
convicted of theft and murder, and his escape caused the IGP
great embarrassment.


9. (C) These challenges notwithstanding, the IGP told POLOFF
he had freed up a room at the PG Hospital, and Sigma could be
moved back to the hospital soon. In response to a request
from Sigma's family members that prison authorities let them
bring her meals as she is diabetic, the IGP said this was
against prison regulations (on security grounds) but he would
reconsider the matter. (NOTE: Sigma was moved back into the
hospital two days after the IGP met with POLOFF. Sigma's
sister also told POLOFF the family was working out an
arrangement with prison authorities to provide special food
for her. END NOTE)

COMMENT
=======


10. (C) The lack of resources and manpower for the prisons
are challenges even under normal circumstances, but the
influx of high-profile prisoners has added to the strain on
the system. The IGP is also hamstrung by Hasina's apparent
determination to make a public relations campaign of what may
or may not be a serious illness. He said repeatedly the last
thing he wants is for anything to happen to anyone in his
custody. He is clearly concerned that if anything does
happen to the high-profile prisoners in particular, he will
be blamed. Regardless of his motivation, the IGP appears to
be doing his best to improve prison conditions and find
solutions for the difficult situations facing key prisoners.
Pasi