AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES U.S. PRIORITIES WITH PRIME

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 000954

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/INSB AND SCA/FO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2019
TAGS: BG EAID ECON KDEM PGOV PK PREL PTER
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES U.S. PRIORITIES WITH PRIME
MINISTER HASINA

Classified By: CHARGE NICHOLAS DEAN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Ambassador met with Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina on October 6. He reviewed her productive UN
General Assembly trip and U.S. interest in cooperating with
Bangladesh on climate change, food security, UN Peace Keeping
Operations and counter-terrorism. The PM was receptive to
U.S. global priorities and the Ambassador's urging of more
productive Bangladesh-Indian relations. She shared his view
on the importance of the Bangladeshi diaspora, good
governance and education reform. The Ambassador pressed the
Prime Minister on commercial advocacy matters and received
some disappointing answers. The Prime Minister began the
meeting by enthusiastically citing President Obama and the
First Lady's positive response to her invitation to visit
Bangladesh. END SUMMARY

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Hasina's UNGA Trip: U.S.-GOB policy Convergence
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2. (C) The Ambassador's October 6 meeting with Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina was their first since her return from the
United Nations. The Ambassador congratulated Hasina on a
productive trip to New York. He noted that the PM had
addressed issues that were also important for the United
States, including climate change, food security, UN Peace
Keeping Operations and Counter Terrorism. Citing climate
change as an example, he said Bangladesh had the opportunity
to lead by showing the world how to effectively mitigate the
effects of global warming. On food security, they agreed on
the need to develop saline resistant crops and stockpile
reserves to use after natural disasters. She reiterated the
GOB's strong interest in a greater role in UN Peacekeeping
policymaking. The PM led off her UNGA review by noting
President Obama and the First Lady's positive response to her
invitation to visit Bangladesh.

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Harnessing the Bangladeshi Diaspora in the U.S.
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3. (C) The Ambassador reaffirmed U.S. desire to engage the
Bangladeshi-American community in the United States. He
acknowledged that the community was split into various
factions, but observed that the Indian-American community had
also been divided just a few years ago. This community had
united effectively to promote closer bilateral ties,
including the United States-Indian nuclear cooperation
agreement. It was possible for the Bangladeshi-American
community to similarly unite to benefit both Bangladesh and
the U.S. Hasina agreed with the value of harnessing the
Bangladeshi diaspora, but worried that Bangladeshi-Americans
were being disproportionately affected by the effects of the
global economic crisis in the United States.

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Counter-Terrorism Cooperation, Bangladesh-India Relations
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4. (C) The Prime Minister reiterated her government's
demonstrated commitment to Counter-Terrorism cooperation with
the United States. She said she had a productive
conversation with Pakistani President Zardari in New York and
believed that he was serious about combating terrorism. The
PM voiced concern that as terrorists were driven out of
Pakistan, many might come to Bangladesh. Alluding to attempts
made on her own life, Hasina declared that she was serious
about fighting terrorism and invoked herself as a possible
martyr. While her firm stance might ultimately lead to her
assassination, she opined, she would keep fighting, Hasina
told the Ambassador. The PM raised the importance of
improved Bangladesh-Indian relations to both countries,
reiterating her intention to continue improving ties with New
Delhi.

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Abuse of Power vs. Good Governance
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5. (C) The Ambassador applauded Hasina for her strong public
remarks, most recently before parliament, decrying abuses of
power by members of parliament, including by members of her
ruling Awami League. These statements alone had not stopped
abuses by some members, he observed. The United States will
continue to speak out against corruption and advocate for
good governance for as long as necessary. The Ambassador

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pledged to continue to raise the issue with the Prime
Minister as long as necessary.

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Education Key to Development
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6. (C) The Ambassador said that while American enterprises
were eager to work in Bangladesh, they were concerned about
the poor level of education found throughout the country.
Bangladesh's poor performance in educating its people
continues to hamper its development. Hasina strongly agreed
on the critical role of education in Bangladesh's
development. The PM declared that her government was
dedicated to boosting educational levels and intended to
build new schools in every upazilla (district). The GOB's
ultimate goal was to make public education free through high
school.

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Petrobangla and Conoco Phillips
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7. (C) Responding to the Ambassador's expression of
confidence in the current chair of state energy enterprise
Petrobangla, Hasina said that his retirement for age was
mandatory. She expressed full trust instead in former
Petrobangla Chairman Dr. Hosain Monsur, who will return to
Petrobangla's helm. Noting the Ambassador's point on
ConocoPhillips' interest in six disputed natural-gas blocks
that ConocoPhillips had won earlier this year, the PM said
that the six blocks would be re-bid. (Note: International
oil companies are skeptical about Hosain Monsur, who they
associate with leftist groups that have opposed the
involvement of foreign companies in developing Bangladesh's
hydrocarbon resources. ConocoPhillips is negotiating with
the Government of Bangladesh for rights to explore two
undisputed offshore gas exploration blocks. The remaining
six blocks that may be re-bid are those contested with Burma
and India. End Note.)

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U.S. and Foreign Shipping Agencies
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8. (C) PM Hasina expressed surprise at the Ambassador's point
that U.S. and other foreign-owned shippers continued to be
harassed despite the PM's instruction to allow their
operations. She reiterated that officials at the Chittagong
Port had been instructed to allow all shipping companies to
operate regardless of proportion of foreign ownership. The
Ambassador replied that even though this was the instruction
from Dhaka, on the ground, foreign-owned companies were still
facing unnecessary hurdles from local officials. Hasina
assured the Ambassador that she would "minimize this gap."

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Comment
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9. (C) Climate change, food-security, UN Peace Keeping and
counter-terrorism are areas where our two governments can
productively work together. PM Hasina's support for improved
Bangladeshi relations with India is similarly in the U.S.
interest. However, the devil is in the details -- her
decision to appoint a new chair of Petrobangla and letting
the natural gas blocks out for re-bid are disappointing. The
ability for the bureaucracy to ignore the Prime Minister's
instructions to resolve problems involving foreign shipping
companies reflects the difficulty the PM faces in
implementing her agenda against the resistance of entrenched
interests. Sustained engagement by the United States in
Bangladesh offers the best prospect to support a reform
agenda and maximize U.S. interests in Bangladesh, South Asia,
and beyond.
DEAN