US embassy cable - 04RANGOON681

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000681 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2014 
TAGS: PREL, ETRD, BM, BG 
SUBJECT: NEW BANGLADESH COMMERCIAL OFFICE: MUCH A-BUZZ 
ABOUT NOTHING? 
 
Classified By: DCM Ronald K. McMullen for Reasons 1.4 (b,d) 
 
1. (SBU) Pol/Econ Officers paid a courtesy call on newly 
arrived Bangladesh Commercial Counselor Mohammed Aftabuzzaman 
on May 13, 2004.  Aftabuzzaman has been charged with opening 
a commercial office and increasing bilateral trade between 
Burma and Bangladesh, which he characterized as currently 
insignificant.  Existing trade is focused on pharmaceuticals 
and agricultural products, although Aftabuzzaman had no 
Bangladesh statistics on trade volume, claiming that the 
numbers were in Dhaka but had not been sent to him.  As a 
result, Aftabuzzaman had spent his first several weeks 
in-country trying to collect statistical information, 
observing that the GOB seemed reluctant to share any customs 
and trade data, and that his meetings with various 
ministries/departments had not resulted in needed 
information.  Aftabuzzaman seemed perplexed by what he 
described as the GOB,s "reserve" about sharing basic 
information. 
 
2. (SBU) When questioned about near-term plans, Aftabuzzaman 
suggested that the first meeting of a joint trade commission 
might be held, but that a date and venue had not been 
determined; a visit by the new Bangladesh Commerce Minister 
also was a possibility.  Aftabuzzaman indicated that a trade 
fair that had been scheduled for March was canceled due to 
lack of interest on the part of Bangladeshi businessmen, but 
had little else to offer on this topic.  Aftabuzzaman said a 
future trade fair was possible, although nothing was being 
planned currently.  Aftabuzzaman found it difficult to 
identify current obstacles to more vigorous bilateral trade 
between Bangladesh and Burma, again commenting on his 
difficulty in getting customs and other data from his own and 
the Burmese government. 
 
3. (C) Comment:  This is Aftabuzzaman,s, a career Ministry 
of Finance auditor, first overseas assignment.  He seems to 
have been set adrift by his own government, arriving here 
with little in the way of marching orders and background, and 
is now confronting yet another impasse as he seeks to engage 
with host-country officials to collect trade data.  End 
comment. 
Martinez