BANGLADESH ENVOY DECLINES TO RETURN TO DHAKA

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 000084 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2019 TAGS: PREL PHUM PREF BD MY SUBJECT: BANGLADESH ENVOY DECLINES TO RETURN TO DHAKA Classified By: Ambassador James R. Keith, reason 1.4 (b and d). ¶1. (C) Bangladesh High Commissioner M. Khairuzzaman, together with spouse Rieta Rahman, called on the Ambassador January 30 and explained that he did not intend to return to Dhaka to face what he termed politically motivated and renewed charges related to the 1975 assassination of Bangladesh founder Sheikh Mujibar Rahman. Khairuzzaman stated that his mid-January recall to Bangladesh over the murder charge amounted to persecution. The envoy indicated he likely would remain in Malaysia and implied he had received some assurances from the Malaysian government that he could stay after his loss of diplomatic status. Khairuzzaman said his wife may travel to Bangladesh within the next two weeks as she does not face charges and has political connections through her family that would serve to protect her. Khairuzzaman provided a packet of documents and press clippings, including "an appeal" for "protection" that presents his case. We have forwarded the "appeal" to EAP/MTS and Embassy Dhaka. ¶2. (C) The Ambassador thanked Khairuzzaman for the background of his case and promised to share the information with Washington. The Ambassador also suggested the outgoing Bangladeshi envoy contact UNHCR regarding his situation. He indicated he is in close touch with UNHCR. Khairuzzaman made no requests of the Ambassador and did not indicate he would apply for refugee status or U.S. admission, although he suggested his wife, who had communicated previously with U.S. Embassy officials in Dhaka, might seek to do so again if she were to travel there in the coming weeks. KEITH