Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08DHAKA593
2008-06-02 11:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Dhaka
Cable title:
REPORTED RESHUFFLE OF MILITARY LEADERS COMES AMID
how-toVZCZCXRO8744 OO RUEHCI DE RUEHKA #0593 1541132 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 021132Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6840 INFO RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 8474 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 2203 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 9708 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0675 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA PRIORITY 1322 RHHJJPI/PACOM IDHS HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 000593
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINS MARR BG
SUBJECT: REPORTED RESHUFFLE OF MILITARY LEADERS COMES AMID
HEIGHTENED POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY
REF: DHAKA 588
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 000593
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINS MARR BG
SUBJECT: REPORTED RESHUFFLE OF MILITARY LEADERS COMES AMID
HEIGHTENED POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY
REF: DHAKA 588
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Lt. Gen. Masud Uddin Chowdhury, a key
behind-the-scenes player in Bangladesh's increasingly chaotic
politics, reportedly has been transferred from his powerful
position atop the armed forces administration to head the
National Defense College (NDC). Masud has been perceived as
the top rival to Chief of Army Staff Gen. Moeen Uddin Ahmed,
who is the power behind the temporary Caretaker Government
that is preparing for national Parliamentary elections in
December. Other senior military officers reportedly have been
transferred as well, including the NDC Commandant who is said
to be named High Commissioner to Australia. The senior
military officer in Chittagong reportedly will replace Masud
as Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division.
2. (C) The reassignment of Masud was reported to the Embassy
by one of his friends and confirmed by other sources. There
were no immediate reports in the local media. The shuffle
follows on the heels of two days of mass arrests of hundreds
of people, including many local leaders and activists of the
country's two largest parties, the Awami League and the
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). There will be speculation
that Masud's transfer is linked to the recent arrests. The
Embassy has no credible information on why the transfers took
place and will continue to follow developments. It was not
immediately clear whether the transfers would affect Masud's
position as coordinator of the National Coordination Council,
which was established in 2007 to pursue high-profile
politicians and businessmen suspected of graft.
Moriarty
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINS MARR BG
SUBJECT: REPORTED RESHUFFLE OF MILITARY LEADERS COMES AMID
HEIGHTENED POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY
REF: DHAKA 588
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Lt. Gen. Masud Uddin Chowdhury, a key
behind-the-scenes player in Bangladesh's increasingly chaotic
politics, reportedly has been transferred from his powerful
position atop the armed forces administration to head the
National Defense College (NDC). Masud has been perceived as
the top rival to Chief of Army Staff Gen. Moeen Uddin Ahmed,
who is the power behind the temporary Caretaker Government
that is preparing for national Parliamentary elections in
December. Other senior military officers reportedly have been
transferred as well, including the NDC Commandant who is said
to be named High Commissioner to Australia. The senior
military officer in Chittagong reportedly will replace Masud
as Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division.
2. (C) The reassignment of Masud was reported to the Embassy
by one of his friends and confirmed by other sources. There
were no immediate reports in the local media. The shuffle
follows on the heels of two days of mass arrests of hundreds
of people, including many local leaders and activists of the
country's two largest parties, the Awami League and the
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). There will be speculation
that Masud's transfer is linked to the recent arrests. The
Embassy has no credible information on why the transfers took
place and will continue to follow developments. It was not
immediately clear whether the transfers would affect Masud's
position as coordinator of the National Coordination Council,
which was established in 2007 to pursue high-profile
politicians and businessmen suspected of graft.
Moriarty