BANGLADESH'S THIRD LARGEST CITY PREPARES FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 DHAKA 000781 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2018 TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM PINR PINS BG SUBJECT: BANGLADESH'S THIRD LARGEST CITY PREPARES FOR MAYORAL ELECTIONS ON AUGUST 4 Classified By: CDA a.i. Geeta Pasi. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) Summary ========= ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Preparations for the August 4 city corporation elections are well underway in Khulna, Bangladesh's third largest city, located in the economically depressed southwestern corner of the country. While the Election Commission is confident voting will go smoothly, the campaigning is bereft of the excitement normally associated with elections in Bangladesh, as the candidates and their supporters remain uncertain how to behave despite the relaxation of the State of Emergency. The six candidates for Khulna Mayor are all familiar faces, some of whom have decidedly checkered pasts. Mirroring their attitudes at the national level, the political parties have adopted an ambivalent position regarding elections. Civil society groups and the media are trying to help promote free and fair elections but appear most concerned about what happens after the polls. Meanwhile, the people of Khulna are more focused on how to jumpstart their moribund economy and rebound from years of economic decline. End Summary Subdued Election Preparations in Khulna ======================================= ¶2. (SBU) With just two weeks to go until the first elections since the January 11, 2007 State of Emergency, the situation in Khulna, Bangladesh's third largest city, appears calm. During a meeting with visiting Pol/Econ Counselor, the local Deputy Commissioner (responsible for overseeing all GOB activities in Khulna District) seemed more concerned about the outcome of the Women's Finals at Wimbledon (which was being rebroadcast on the television in his office) than he did about the elections. While more engaged than the Deputy Commissioner, the local representatives of the Election Commission also seemed ambivalent about the elections. ¶3. (SBU) The Election Commission told us they welcomed observers and would provide full support to teams deployed by the Embassy on election day. His staff consists of five young officers. They took pride in the recently completed voter list, and said that there had been no major complaints/problems with the list. (Note: The candidates and other observers echoed this view). The EC representative confidently predicted a strong voter turnout. He said there would be restrictions on movement around the city on August 4, but the EC had not yet decided whether to cut off cell phone service as had been done in the past on election day. The EC said they would have adequate police and other personnel on duty. The EC expected each candidate would have polling agents at each polling booth, and the Commission was currently developing plans to provide training to these individuals. Familiar Faces Running for Office ===================================== ¶4. (SBU) In comments to the press published July 22, the Chief Election Commissioner complained that the same old faces were being nominated in the city corporation and municipal elections. He could easily have had Khulna in mind, where the six candidates include: Talukder Abdul Khaleq (former Awami League State Minister and current AL local party President),Moniruzzaman Moni (currently acting Mayor and local BNP Organizing Secretary),Advocate Enayet Ali (former Awami League Mayor),Advocate Feroj Ahmed (Communist Party of Bangladesh activist) and relative unknowns Advocate Moslemuddin and Shekih Tayebur Rahman. Khaleq is facing criminal charges, including for illegal gambling, and Moni was formerly accused in a murder case. ¶5. (C) We heard repeated suspicions that some candidates might be receiving support behind-the-scenes from the CTG or security services. Recent photographs of former-Mayor Enayet Ali meeting with local representatives from the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence raised questions about his campaign. For the record, Enayet denied receiving any support from DGFI, and instead complained about efforts by local Awami League activists to discourage him from running for office. For his part, Acting Mayor Moni said the Local Government Ministry had chosen him, and a complaint was lodged by his opponents when Local Government Adviser Anwarul Iqbal recently visited Khulna to reopen a jute mill in the city. Moni's opponents complained to the Election Commission that the Adviser,s visit was in direct contravention of rules barring Ministers from visiting areas after the DHAKA 00000781 002 OF 003 election date was announced. A well known BNP activist, the acting Mayor, has distanced himself from his party. His predecessor, also from the BNP, had been in office for the past seventeen years but was now in jail on corruption charges. ¶6. (SBU) Mayoral Candidate Khaleq's supporters told us he was running with the full support of the Awami League, even though City elections were nominally non-partisan. Khaleq was formerly a State Minister during the AL's 1991 ) 1996 government, and is the local AL President. Khaleq's campaign platform focused on anti-corruption and development of local infrastructure. He and his party supporters complained of too many restrictions on campaigning and too little time for reaching out to voters. The candidates were trying to reach the estimated 400,000 registered voters, but were not being allowed to use the normal campaign practices of using banners, loudspeakers, and holding large rallies. Parties Ambivalent about their Roles ==================================== ¶7. (SBU) Local representatives of the Jamaat Islami Bangladesh told us they were following the Four Party Alliance's position of boycotting the municipal elections. The Jamaat leaders we met were very well organized and aware of the state of play of political issues at the national election. They had a number of questions about US policy in Bangladesh and the region, and expressed strong support for both their leader Jamaat Ameer Moulana Nizami and imprisoned former BNP Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. The Jamaat told us that they were not supporting any candidate in the Mayoral elections, but were not telling their supporters to boycott the polls. ¶8. (SBU) Likewise, local BNP leaders were respecting their party's decision to boycott the municipal elections, and told us they were not providing any support to the Acting Mayor's campaign. When asked, the BNP leadership said that it would be up to the party's central leadership to decide whether to discipline Moni for defying the leadership by running for office. The local BNP leadership said that they were in close contact with the Party's central officials, and denied that there was any split within the party at the Khulna level. They expressed hope that the BNP would hold a Council Meeting prior to the December elections to determine the party's future stance. They claimed that the party, and the Four Party Alliance, remained strong at the grassroots level. (Note: Khulna has been a traditional BNP stronghold, with past mayoral and Parliamentary elections going to BNP candidates). Civil Society and Media Playing Positive Role ============================================= ¶9. (SBU) While the politicians and the parties are focused on winning the elections, the media and civil society are trying to fill a void by educating potential voters about the issues. They are also focused on avoiding a return to "winner take all" politics, and are trying to convince the candidates to work together regardless of who wins the elections. ATN Bangla and BBC are organizing television and radio forums for the candidates, with the first held July 21. A local US-funded NGO, Rupantor, also helped the Khulna Citizen's Forum organize a "meet the candidates" event on July 20 and a forum for female candidates on July 21. As part of the international donor-funded Election Working Group, Rupantor is also planning to field local observers on August 4. What Do the People Want? ======================== ¶10. (SBU) While there is interest in the return of political activity, most in Khulna realize that the mayoral elections are only the first step in addressing the region's serious economic problems. In recent years, Khulna has lost over one million industrial jobs, as jute mills and other factories have closed. Residents complain about lack of electricity and gas needed for industrial development. Nearby Mongla port stands idle, and plans to build a bridge over the Padma River have gone nowhere. As a result of poor governance, Khulna city suffers from poor urban infrastructure, even as its citizens pay some of the highest taxes in the country. Workers in the jute sector have threatened to boycott the August 4 elections until their demands for better working conditions and salary and are met. Cynics believe that the workers are simply trying to revive an old custom of getting DHAKA 00000781 003 OF 003 bribes from candidates for locally elected offices. Comment ======= ¶11. (SBU) One longtime Khulna resident told us that it is the "Best of times, and the worst of times" for his adopted city. Like many in Bangladesh, residents of Khulna understand the opportunity the Caretaker Government has offered to improve governance and reduce corruption. They hope to have new elected leaders who will be effective advocates for their interests at the national level. At the same time, they remain cynical that anything will change, particularly as they see the same old faces coming forward in the current elections. Odds are, voting will go smoothly on August 4. The real question will be whether anything will change for the people of Khulna after that date. Pasi