US embassy cable - 05DHAKA554

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 000554 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, PGOV, KCRM, BG, BG Terrorism 
SUBJECT: PM ZIA PROMISES FULL SUPPORT FOR "FBI" ASSISTANCE 
 
REF: STATE 20642 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Harry K. Thomas, reasons 1.4 b and d. 
 
 1. (C) Summary.  PM Zia promised full support for U.S. law 
enforcement consultants investigating the January 27 attack, 
expressed a strong preference for the FBI because of its 
positive profile in Bangladesh, and attributed hartal 
violence and a bombing at the Khulna press club to the Awami 
League.  As the next step, we request New Delhi Legatt come 
to Dhaka to negotiate appropriate terms of reference.  End 
Summary. 
 
2. (U) Action request--see para 8. 
 
3. (SBU) On February 7, Ambassador presented reftel talking 
points to Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.  P/E counselor 
(notetaker), PMO Principal Secretary Kamaluddin Sidiqui, PMO 
Political Secretary Haris Chowdhury, and PMO Press Secretary 
Tajul Islam sat in. 
 
4. (C) After opening pleasantries, Ambassador stated that he 
had come in response to the PM's telephone conversation with 
Secretary Rice and her request for U.S. law enforcement 
 
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assistance in investigating the January 27 attack.  He 
reiterated USG condemnation of the attack and the importance 
of solving the crime.  We want, he said, to work with the BDG 
to support democracy and stability, and to stop acts that 
benefit only the extremists. 
 
5. (C) However, he noted, we have serious concerns given our 
experience after the August 21 attack, when the BDG denied 
ATF consultants access to key witnesses and failed to protect 
the crime scene from severe contamination.  To make the 
involvement of U.S. law enforcement consultants meaningful 
this time, we seek clear BDG commitments that U.S. 
consultants would have full access to all evidence and 
witnesses.  If the consultants came and were obstructed, 
Ambassador said, they would leave and the USG would be 
obliged to explain publicly why.  As a next step, he 
suggested that terms of reference be negotiated with the Home 
Ministry to detail the precise role and parameters of USG 
consultants in the investigation. 
 
6. (C) Zia asserted her full support for an open and complete 
investigation to solve this "very sad" crime.  She expressed 
a strong preference for FBI involvement because, as Principal 
Secretary Sidiqui interjected, "The FBI is well known and 
 
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well respected here."  Press Secretary Islam suggested that, 
even if ATF agents were included, the team could still be 
called a "FBI" team.  The Ambassador undertook to convey to 
Washington the PM's strong preference for the FBI. 
 
7. (C) Ambassador noted that with each passing day the 
January 27 crime scene, if not properly protected, would 
become more and more contaminated.  Sidiqui took the point, 
but remarked that fencing off the crime scene would lead to 
"opposition" allegations that the BDG has "something to 
hide."  Zia added: "We're very concerned by these attacks, 
but are hartals and bomb throwings that kill policemen good 
for democracy?"  As Zia nodded, Sidiqui attributed to the 
Awami League the February 5 bombing at the Khulna press club 
that injured four persons, one seriously. 
 
8. (C) Action requested: Please authorize/instruct New Delhi 
Legatt to come to Dhaka to negotiate with Home Ministry 
officials appropriate terms of reference for U.S. law 
enforcement consultants in the January 27 attack 
investigation, with special emphasis on what the BDG wants 
them to do and what the BDG would do to make their 
involvement meaningful. 
 
9. (C) Comment: There is intense, BDG-fueled media coverage 
of possible USG involvement in the January 27 case.  As the 
PMO press secretary left to brief the media, he asked if he 
could announce that a FBI team is en route.  Ambassador and 
the PM agreed to say the issue had been discussed and that 
the next step would be to work out terms of reference.  The 
BDG has a lot riding on "FBI" participation, which it is 
already projecting as evidence of its commitment to solve 
Kibria's killing.  The profile of USG involvement would be 
further elevated if British High Commissioner Chowdhury is 
right in anticipating that Scotland Yard will not get 
involved this time because of its negative experience with 
the investigations of the August 21 attack and the May 21 
attack on Chowdhury himself. 
THOMAS