US embassy cable - 05DHAKA430

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 000430 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PTER, BG 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH LAW MINISTER AND POLITICAL 
SECRETARY 
 
 
SIPDIS 
 
REF: A. DHAKA 0361 
     B. DHAKA 0345 
     C. 04 DHAKA 04382 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Harry K. Thomas, reasons para 1.5 (b),(d) 
 
1. (SBU)  SUMMARY.  On January 31, Ambassador met with Law 
Minister Moudud Ahmed to express concern about the Kibria 
killing and the rise in extra-judicial killings.  He also 
raised ratification of UN Counter-terrorism conventions, the 
Ahmadiyyas, a pending DOE agreement with the BDG to manage 
nuclear waste, and the draft bilateral Trade and Investment 
Framework Agreement (TIFA).  END SUMMARY 
 
2. (C) Regarding the January 27 attack that killed Awami 
League leader Shah AMS Kibria (ref a), Ambassador emphasized 
the critical importance of properly investigating and 
resolving the incident. Ahmed said that the BDG should not be 
involved in the investigation and should only assist law 
enforcement agencies because the BDG "cannot share 
responsiblity." Instead, he felt all the responsibility 
should be given to the investigating body whether it be 
Interpol or the FBI. Ambassador replied that such assistance 
from US law enforcement agencies is only possible if they are 
given full access to the crime scene and witnesses. 
 
3. (C) Ambassador also expressed strong concern about the 
growing number of extra-judicial killings committed by the 
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and other police units (ref b). 
He urged the BDG to use due process, not "crossfire" 
killings, to attack lawlessness. While the Ambassador has not 
publically criticized RAB, he said, the developing pattern of 
extra-judicial killings could result in Leahy ammendment 
sanctions that would withhold USG-funded training and assort 
for units and personnel associated with the killings.  Ahmed 
replied only that he hoped that the RAB's record of 
extra-judicial killings "won't have to continue like this." 
 
4. (SBU) Of the 12 UN Counter-terrosism conventions, 
Bangladesh has only adopted three, Ambassador noted.  He 
recounted that Foreign Minister Morshed Khan had recently 
told him that Bangladesh would ratify five of the remaining 
nine conventions by the end of April. The other four 
conventions do not apply to Bangladesh because they are 
related to nuclear weapons.  Ahmed indicated that he agreed 
with this outlook 
 
5. (C) On the subject of Ahmadiyyas, Ambassador expressed 
concern with the ban on their publications and fear that, if 
such a ban were enforced or officially gazetted, other 
minority groups could be subsequently targeted by extremists. 
 Ahmed said he believed the Bangladeshi Supreme Court would 
over-turn the ban (reftel c) and that he personally opposes 
the ban promoted by "religious fanatics and zealots."  The 
Law Minister, however, has no role or ability to formally 
oppose the ban of publications. 
 
6. (SBU) Ahmed said that the pending Department of Energy 
agreement with Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission to manage 
nuclear waste should be addressed within two weeks, and that 
he will look forward to reviewing the TIFA draft when it 
reaches his office for vetting. Ambassador expressed 
appreciation for the Law Ministry's cooperation in securing 
legislation last year that extended trade union rights to the 
EPZ's and for its help in making prosecution of TIP offenders 
a top priority. 
 
7. (C)  In a subsequent meeting with PMO Political Secretary 
Harris Chowdhury,  Ambassador repeated USG concerns about RAB 
and the implications of the Leahy ammendment.  Chowdhury took 
advantage of the meeting to assure Ambassador of PM Zia's 
committment to solve the Kibria killing. 
THOMAS