BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: DHAKA RESPONSE TO

UNCLAS DHAKA 000878 SIPDIS PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KOMC BG SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: DHAKA RESPONSE TO POST-SHIPMENT END-USE CHECK ON LICENSE 050127443 REF: SECSTATE 70691 Below provides answers to each of ref questions on the Blue Lantern post-shipment end-use check for License 050127443. Questions directed to Bangladesh Police Inspector General (IGP): --Did you received the pistols (serial numbers MRF5674 and MRH3635) and threaded barrel listed below? Yes. --Did you receive any other defense articles in this transaction? No. --Do you intend to mate the threaded barrel with a sound suppresser? No. --For what does the Inspector General use a sound suppresser? Not applicable. The IGP,s Procurement Section ordered two Smith and Wesson 9mm pistols for field testing. The sound suppresser was shipped separately. Neither the suppresser nor the pistols were meant for or have been used by the IGP for personal use. --Were you informed in writing by the U.S. vendor that the threaded barrel must remain in the Inspector General's custody and cannot be transferred to the Bangladesh Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Organization? Yes. Will the Bangladesh Rapid Action Battalion Organization ever have custody of the threaded barrel? No. The IGP's Procurement Section received and signed DSP-83 Non Transfer and Use Certificate. IGP authorities assured EmbOff they understood USG non-transferrance rules, in particular the restrictions on the RAB. --Are you familiar with the regulations governing the import of U.S.-origin defense articles, including restrictions on re-transfer or re-export? Yes, the IGP's Procurement Section received and signed DSP-83 Non Transfer and Use Certificate. Answers to questions related to New Victor Limited (NVL): --When was your company established and who are its principals? NVL was established on April 6, 1977 by retired Brigadier General Abdur Rouf who died in 1998. Gen. Rouf,s son, Touhid Rouf, has been running the company since 1988 and holds the position of Managing Director. The General Manager, Dabiruddin Ahmed, has been working for the company for 26 years. --What products and services does your company provide? Who are your regular customers and where do they reside? NVL is engaged in trading and supply of defense products to include arms and ammunitions, military trucks, and radar equipment. Its main customers are the Bangladesh Government through the Directorate General of Defense Purchase (DGDP) and the Bangladesh Police. They have supplied defense products to National Security Intelligence (NSI) and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR). Its customers are based in Dhaka. --What was your role in this transaction? Did you ever have possession of the defense articles listed below? NVL acts as a local agent of Smith and Wesson Holding Corporation, USA. This transaction was a required trial procurement prior to an upcoming larger bulk procurement of pistols by the Bangladesh Police. The Bangladesh Police require that participating suppliers submit sample products on a trial basis prior to participating in larger tender. NVL only processed the documents and acted as an intermediary between the Bangladesh Police and Smith and Wesson Holding. Bangladesh Police cleared the consignment from the airport; NVL was not present. Bangladesh Police remain in possession of the defense articles. --Are you familiar with the regulations governing the import of U.S.-origin defense articles, including restrictions on re-transfer or re-export? NVL is familiar with the regulations governing the import of U.S.-origin defense articles, including restrictions on re-transfer or re-export. NVL helps the beneficiaries (in this case the Bangladesh Police) to fill out the "End User Certificate" form and then send it back to the U.S. supplier. Answers to questions on Bangladesh Export/Import Authorities: --Is New Victor Limited properly authorized to import defense articles in Bangladesh? No. NVL is not authorized to import defense articles in Bangladesh nor is any other private company in Bangladesh authorized to import defense articles. Only government agencies or the government beneficiary can import defense articles. In this case, the Bangladesh Ministry of Home Affairs gave permission to Bangladesh Police to import the defense articles. NVL only processed the documents and acted as an intermediary between the Bangladesh Police and Smith and Wesson Holding. --Do you have any information on New Victor Limited that would question their reliability as a recipient of U.S. defense articles? We have no derogatory information on NVL. MORIARTY