CRICKET DIPLOMACY A SMASHING SUCCESS

UNCLAS DHAKA 000065 SIPDIS DEPT PASS TO S/CT DAILEY SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PGOV KDEM PREL BG SUBJECT: CRICKET DIPLOMACY A SMASHING SUCCESS -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) An inaugural Embassy-organized Sports Diplomacy day to help local police improve relations with the general public through a shared joy of cricket proved a huge hit. About 1,000 people participated in the December 20, 2008, program in Patuakhali, a southern district still recovering from the devastation of Cyclone Sidr in November 2007. The Embassy's Information Support Team (IST) organized the initial event, while the Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism (S/CT) provided funding. Two additional Sports Diplomacy events are planned for the coming weeks and more are expected as part of ongoing Embassy programs to strengthen police relations with their communities in order to counter extremism. -------------- BATTING AWAY EXTREMISM IN PATUAKHALI -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Bangladesh is a cricket-mad country. The exploits of the national team are followed closely by millions of Bangladeshis; wherever one travels through this poverty-ridden country one will see pick-up games of cricket in schoolyards and even in fallow rice fields. Post created Sports Diplomacy to bring local law enforcement agencies and the public they serve together through their shared love of cricket. The program can help overcome the general public's apprehension about working hand-in-hand with law enforcement officials, who often are perceived as corrupt and uninterested in aiding local communities. The devastation wrought by Cyclone Sidr -- including the destruction of homes, schools and other infrastructure - created an environment in which extremist ideologies could flourish. Patuakhali, in the heart of the Sidr-affected area, thus represented an ideal location for a program to improve local attitudes toward police. ¶3. (SBU) The IST team, using funds provided by the S/CT Ambassadors' Fund, distributed 150 sets of cricket equipment - including jerseys, practice balls, bats and helmets -- to Patuakhali students. More than 1,000 people attended a charity cricket match of mixed teams including local police officers, local cricket club members, students and four former members of the Bangladesh national cricket team. Selected students received coaching from national team players, who are viewed as iconic national heroes. Local police officers were instrumental in the success of the program, providing a friendly presence and sportsmanship; they also personally handed out the cricket equipment to the students. -------------- NEXT UP TO BAT -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The Embassy IST team is using its own funding to prepare for two more Sports Diplomacy events. The first program will be in Barisal as part of the Embassy's America Week programming in late January. The second will be in Chapai Nawabganj in northwest Bangladesh, where there is a history of extremist activity. Post has nearly completed production of materials for these events and local police are eager to participate. We expect that each event will help improve community perception of local law enforcement agencies. Post will brief the new Home Ministry leadership on this initiative as an example of community policing in action. Post appreciates support from S/CT Ambassadors' Fund that made this possible.