US embassy cable - 05DHAKA1131

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 001131 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/13/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, BG 
SUBJECT: TARIQUE RAHMAN ON COUNTRY WIDE LISTENING TOUR 
 
 
Classified By: P/E  Counselor D.C. McCullough, Reason(s): 1.4 (b),(d) 
 
 1. (SBU)  Since the beginning of January, BNP Senior Joint 
Secretary Tarique Rahman has been conducting a country wide 
 
SIPDIS 
grass roots "listening" tour.  At each subdistrict, he hosts 
political rallies with local leaders and party members.  His 
agenda is full of stock BNP messages such as warnings against 
those who resort to "anarchic politics, conspiracy and 
hartal."  When he opens the floor to questions, he addresses 
local concerns.  At a February rally in Chittagong, according 
to media reports, he urged leaders to highlight the successes 
of the BNP government, calling upon party leaders to inform 
the people about government subsidies for farmers, allowances 
for elderly people, stipends for female students, and making 
the country free from plastic bags. 
 
2. (SBU)  Visiting subdistricts that have been dominated by 
the Awami League since independence, sources report that 
Tarique uses voter statistics and polling to determine the 
important local issues at each location.  At each stop, 
Tarique,s staff hand out BNP folders that contain an 
audiocassette with speeches by his father, the late President 
Zia Rahman, press talking points for local leaders, the BNP 
party strategy, a response paper to the 21 August grenade 
attack on the Awami League rally, and a government statistic 
sheet to show what the BNP has done for the people.  His 
plainclothes security detail encourages people to come up and 
talk to Tarique. 
 
3. (SBU) Initial negative press reporting and senior BNP 
leader grumbling about Tarique's "grandstanding" have all but 
died out, according to sources.  After each event, Tarique 
returns to Dhaka for a day or two to handle central party 
matters.  During this time, he personally signs response 
letters to the attendees at the various rallies.  These 
response letters contain regionally specific issues and 
discussion on how to address them.  By the first week of 
April, he will have, he says signed 18,000 letters. 
 
4. (C) Tarique told poloff that he will complete his tour by 
the end of March and then stay in Dhaka during April before 
beginning a May follow up campaign in a more targeted manner. 
 
5. (C) Comment: Tarique,s listening tour represents his 
political "coming out" party and coincides with his growing 
public profile in recent months.  Whether he can succeed in 
capturing the BNP grassroots or expanding his popular 
standing remains to be seen.  End Comment. 
THOMAS