STAFFDEL YEO VISIT HIGHLIGHTS IMPORTANCE OF POLITICAL

UNCLAS DHAKA 000937 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR H AND SCA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR KDEM EAID OREP BG SUBJECT: STAFFDEL YEO VISIT HIGHLIGHTS IMPORTANCE OF POLITICAL TRANSITION AND CLOSE BILATERAL TIES REF: STATE 82421 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: During their August 19 - 21 visit to Bangladesh, StaffDel Yeo underscored the strong Congressional interest in bilateral relations and stressed the importance of free and fair parliamentary elections by the end of the year. The staff delegation from the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, which was led by Peter Yeo and included Manpreet Singh Anand and Brent Woolfork, met with senior GOB officials, held discussions with political and civil society leaders, visited the Cyclone Sidr-affected areas to see USAID-funded recovery projects, and visited an HIV/AIDS project in Dhaka. The Staffdel's local interlocutors expressed appreciation for U.S. engagement and support. END SUMMARY. BI-LATERAL RELATIONS ¶2. (SBU) Foreign Adviser Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury welcomed Staffdel Yeo to Bangladesh, acknowledging the critical role that the Congress plays in developing our bilateral relationship. Chowdhury stressed Bangladesh's desire for enhanced market access for its exports to the U.S., asking that his country not be penalized for its success. Chowdhury claimed that Bangladesh paid $500 million in duties on its $3.5 billion in exports to the U.S., which he said was a much higher percentage than many other countries' exports are charged. Looking into the future, Chowdhury focused on the potential for Bangladesh to transform into a "giant Singapore or Bangalore" in 50 years. ¶3. (SBU) The Staffdel emphasized the strong Congressional interest in Bangladesh's ongoing democratic transition, culminating in elections by the end of 2008. The Foreign Adviser reiterated the Caretaker Government's (CTG) commitment to ensuring stability while preparing for the return of parliamentary democracy. In response to a question, the Foreign Adviser said that it would be difficult for Bangladesh to lift the State of Emergency since its constitution did not provide an alternative that would ensure stability. Chowdhury expressed hope that Bangladesh's international partners would understand the importance of maintaining security until and during elections. Chowdhury also focused on the importance of building strong institutions and explained the need to ensure continuity of reforms begun by the CTG. ¶4. (SBU) In a separate meeting, Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain ;also highlighted the economic and trade dimension of the bilateral relationship. Specifically, Hossain focused on the importance to Bangladesh of continued GSP benefits. Referring to the New Partnership for Development Act, Hossain acknowledged concerns by some African countries, but expressed hope that the final bill would not disadvantage Bangladesh. On politics, Hossain said he was convinced that elections would take place on schedule, and pointed to the successful August 4 elections and the Election Commission's achievement in creating a photo voter's list as positive developments. ¶5. (SBU) Responding to a question from the Staffdel, Hossain said Bangladesh understood the importance of addressing worker rights issues and the linkages to trade preferences. He said that Bangladesh would be open to the idea of regional approaches to addressing labor issues. Hossain also said that the GOB was looking for ways to ensure that Bangladesh's expatriate workers were treated better in destination countries. The Staffdel also noted the continuing Congressional interest in the case of Salahuddin Shoaib Chowdhury. Hossain said the GOB was aware of this interest and said that he and the Home Secretary were trying to resolve the case. Hossain clarified that Chowdhury no longer faces the death penalty, even if convicted in the ongoing case. ELECTIONS PREPARATIONS -------------- ¶6. (SBU) During his meeting with the Staffdel, Bangladesh's Chief Election Commissioner A.T.M. Shamsul Huda outlined the Commission's main achievements in implementing the electoral roadmap as well as the remaining challenges. Huda emphasized the BEC's achievement in registering Bangladesh's 80 million voters. Huda and the other Commissioners outlined the key technical, logistical and cultural challenges that they had overcome and emphasized the many benefits to be derived from the massive registration effort. ¶7. (SBU) The Commissioners also discussed the August 4th local elections, which were held in four of Bangladesh's major cities and nine municipalities. The EC described these elections as a key test of their capacity to administer elections using the new voter list, and claimed the polls demonstrated how the state of emergency might affect electoral contests. The Commissioners said that the elections were generally successful and they highlighted the absence of violence, freedom of nomination and campaigning, high voter turnout, and respect for new electoral laws and regulations. They were also candid in outlining some of the lessons learned and improvements to be introduced, such as improved voter identification and poll worker training. ¶8. (SBU) During a reception hosted by the Ambassador, the Staffdel were able to discuss political developments with representatives from a cross-section of Bangladesh's political parties, as well as representatives of civil society and the business community. On the whole, the politicians expressed guarded optimism regarding the prospects for elections. DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE -------------- ¶9. (U) The StaffDel traveled to Sarankhola, in southern Bangladesh, to visit the Sidr-affected region to see the ongoing relief effort. During their visit, they were able to see four ongoing USAID-supported projects: a CARE Shelter Reconstruction project; a GOB-constructed Cyclone Shelter; a WFP Emergency Food Distribution site; the Leaders of Influence program (involving religious and community leaders) and a local government program. The Staffdel visited the first few CARE-constructed houses built as part of the medium term support for rebuilding livelihoods and reducing vulnerability for families affected by Cyclone Sidr. USAID is funding construction of approximately 850 houses for families who lost their homes in the recent cyclone. The delegation members observed the actual food distribution process while visiting WFP's general food distribution site. They also handed over the food rations to beneficiaries. This USG supported program, implemented by the WFP, helps to meet the immediate food needs of people affected by Cyclone Sidr. Later, the visitors met informally with officials from Rupantar, a USAID-funded NGO that implements some Sidr relief and rehabilitation activities. The Staffdel also met with the Muslim religious leader (Imams) who have received training under the USAID-funded Leaders of Influence program to learn from and actively participate in the development efforts of Bangladesh. ¶10. (U) USAID implementing partners had an opportunity to describe their efforts in the immediate aftermath of the cyclone, as well as the long-term reconstruction plans for the region. The StaffDel was also briefed on interagency cooperation in relief efforts, including Defense funding for the construction of new cyclone shelters. This visit was an opportunity for the Staffdel to learn how USG supported the medium term reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in the aftermath of Cyclone Sidr and how the recently appropriated emergency supplemental funds will be used to further reconstruction efforts. The $ 77.5 million approved for long term reconstruction efforts will help rebuild the livelihoods and productive assets of affected communities, such as reestablishing the fishing industry and creating jobs through Cash for Work programs. Long term reconstruction efforts will include restoration of fish and shrimp ponds, assistance to the GOB through a flood shelter planning and management program (so that disaster shelters are mapped and built in areas where they are most needed),and provision of nutrition for children and mothers in the cyclone-affected region. The shelters will serve as schools and community centers when not needed for emergencies. ¶11. (U) The StaffDel also visited a drop-in center in Dhaka for injecting drug users, the population group in Bangladesh with the highest prevalence of HIV, which is still less than 5% of estimated total users. Padakhep, a local NGO, implements the activity with a Global Fund grant managed by Save the Children. These grants and partnerships demonstrate the GOB's trust in the private sector to assist in critical health service delivery. At the center, the visitors interacted with both staff and drug users to get a better understanding of the nature of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Bangladesh and of the type of services and interventions which have been designed to mitigate the spread of the disease. ¶12. (U) At a dinner hosted by the USAID Director, the StaffDel had an opportunity to learn more about the development climate and to exchange ideas with the multilateral and bilateral donor community including UNDP, the World Bank, ADB, WFP, CIDA and the Netherlands and with major implementing partners such as CARE and Grameen Shakti. The dinner guests explained the active donor coordination mechanisms in Bangladesh, and emphasized how these proved critical in the aftermath of the cyclone to ensure the most effective use of assistance. COMMENT -------------- ¶13. (SBU) The StaffDel's visit came at a perfect time, with the next four months vital to ensuring the return to a stable, participatory democracy. The StaffDel's message on the restoration of democracy was well-received, with all interlocutors agreeing that the elections must proceed in a fair and transparent manner. This visit was also an excellent opportunity to again highlight the leading USG role in providing assistance following Cyclone Sidr, as well as our commitment to continue to help restore livelihoods over the longer term. ¶14. (U) The Staffdel has cleared this cable. ROLLINS