GOB RESPONSE TO REPORTS BANGLADESH MAY HAVE

S E C R E T DHAKA 000595 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/PB, SCA/RA, NEA/IR, ISN/CATR MICHAEL ROLLIERI E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/26/2018 TAGS: ETTC MASS PARM PREL IR BG SUBJECT: GOB RESPONSE TO REPORTS BANGLADESH MAY HAVE PURCHASED ARMS AND NVGS FROM IRAN REF: A. STATE 52645 ¶B. 07 DHAKA 422 ¶C. 07 STATE 29933 Classified By: Amb. James F. Moriarty, Reasons 1.4(b) and (d) SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (S) The Government of Bangladesh (GOB)'s investigation into cargo consigned in March 2006 to Everett Bangladesh (Pvt) Ltd revealed the shipment did not originate in Iran. We raised USG concerns about the reported sale of Iranian night-vision goggles (NVGs) to the Bangladesh Army with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who promised to investigate the claim. According to the Bangladesh Army's Chief of General Staff, the Army has no plan to acquire NVGs from Iran. EVERETT BANGLADESH SHIPMENT NOT FROM IRAN -------------- ¶2. (S) In response to Ref C demarche, Mohammed Khorshed Khastagir, Senior Assistant Secretary, Americas and Pacific Wing, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA),reported to Econoff the MFA's finding that the shipment of ammunition, grenades and fuses consigned to Everett Bangladesh (Pvt) Ltd in March 2006 did not originate in Iran. According to the MFA, the vessel on which the shipment was transported made a refueling stop in the Port of Bandar Abbas, Iran, but no cargo was on-loaded at that port. The MFA did not have any information about where the shipment originated. MFA PROMISES TO INVESTIGATE REPORT OF NVG SALE -------------- -------------- ¶3. (S) The DCM May 21 presented Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain Ref A demarche regarding reports that Iran's Shiraz Electronics Industries (SEI) was planning to sell the Bangladesh Army Shabanoor 001 (NVG1001) NVGs. Pol/Econ Deputy also demarched Masudur Rahman, Director of the MFA's Americas and Pacific Wing. Both Hossain and Rahman said the MFA would investigate the claim and inform us of its findings. Both also said the GOB takes seriously its responsibilities under UNSCR 1747 and promised to pursue the matter vigorously. ARMY DENIES REPORT OF PLANNED IRANIAN NVG SALE -------------- --- ¶4. (S) DATT spoke o/a June 1 with the Bangladesh Army's Chief of General Staff (CGS) Major General Sina ibn Jamali, who said no Bangladesh Army plan exists to acquire Iranian night vision goggles. ¶5. (S) We will continue to press the GOB to share the results of its investigation. Moriarty