US embassy cable - 05DHAKA1535

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 001535 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR I/FW, B/G, IIP/G/NEA-SA, B/VOA/N (BANGLA SERVICE) STATE 
FOR SA/PAB, SA/PPD (LSCENSNY, SSTRYKER), SA/RA, INR/R/MR, 
AND PASS TO USAID FOR ANE/ASIA/SA/B (WJOHNSON) 
 
CINCPAC FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR, J51 (MAJ TURNER), J45 
(MAJ NICHOLLS) 
 
USARPAC FOR APOP-IM (MAJ HEDRICK) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR, OIIP, OPRC, KPAO, PREL, ETRD, PTER, ASEC, BG, OCII 
SUBJECT: Media Reaction: State Department's Report on 
Bangladesh;Dhaka 
 
 
Summary: Two opposition Bangla newspapers criticize the 
Bangladesh government for the worsening human rights 
situation as mentioned in the U.S. State Department report. 
Editorials asked the government to improve its performance, 
instead of blaming the opposition. 
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State Department's Report on Bangladesh 
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"Investigation into Political Violence" 
Pro-opposition Bangla language newspaper "Janakantha" 
editorially comments (4/1): 
 
Grenade attacks in Bangladesh are all politically motivated. 
The government has failed to investigate into these 
politically motivated attacks.  This has been said in the 
U.S. report "Supporting Human Rights and Democracy: The U.S. 
Records 2004-05".  The report also said that extra-judicial 
killings are occurring in Bangladesh.  NGO workers and 
religious minorities are subjected to attacks.  The report 
clearly said that violence is a usual feature of politics in 
Bangladesh. 
 
What the report said is not hidden from the public.  People 
know this.  Even those who are in power and strongly deny 
know that this is true.  Previously, the government would 
not have acknowledged that grenade attacks were politically 
motivated.  After the murder of Kibria and with 
international pressure, the investigation that has so far 
been carried out revealed that the ruling party activists 
were involved in it 
 
These attacks are occurring because there is a government 
inside the government.  As a result, perpetrators escape 
easily and investigations into the incidents lose track 
midway.  After the U.S. report, the government may repeat 
like a parrot that the report is the result of the 
activities of those who are out to undermine the image of 
the country.  This may help them stop street politics, but 
what about the fact that Bangladesh is becoming friendless. 
How could one hope that the modern world will continue to 
have relations with a country that is silently giving birth 
to fundamentalism? 
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"The U.S. State Department Report and Bangladesh" 
Pro-Opposition Bangla language newspaper "Sangbad" 
editorially comments (4/1): 
The U.S. State Department, in a report to Congress, said 
that Bangladesh's poor human rights situation has become 
more fragile.  Citing some indices, the report "Supporting 
Human Rights and Democracy -- The U.S. Records 2004-2005" 
said that the situation worsened further with the abuse of 
power, extra-judicial killings, discrimination and violence 
against women, corruption, detention, lack of freedom of 
speech, restrictions on political rallies and interference 
in religious freedoms. 
There is no way to disagree with the U.S. State Department 
report.  Bangladesh's newspapers have been publishing these 
incidents every day.  The government has always denied that 
the situation is deteriorating and, without improving the 
situation, it has put the responsibility for these incidents 
on the opposition. 
Will the government again say that the U.S. State Department 
has prepared the report as dictated by the opposition? 
There is a little scope for this, since the U.S. State 
Department has said that a U.S. Cell on Democracy and Human 
Rights has been working in Bangladesh to strengthen 
democratic institutions, bring transparency, improve human 
rights and ensure accountability to the people.  After the 
August 21 grenade attack on Awami League Chief Sheikh 
Hasina, the U.S. Embassy has been demanding an expeditious 
and fair investigation into the incident.  But that did not 
work.  The U.S. Embassy also emphasized identifying the 
perpetrators of the attack on former President Badruddoza 
Chowdhury.  It made similar requests to the Bangladesh 
government after the murder of former Finance Minister 
Kibria. 
The Bangladesh government has only investigated the murder 
of Kibria.  Therefore, there is no reason to believe that 
the government will be able to escape responsibility by 
blaming the opposition or the attitude of donors for the 
situation.  The only task before the government is to 
improve its performance, instead of blaming the opposition. 
If it can do that, governance, human rights situation and 
democratic and political image may improve and get approval 
at home and abroad.  Otherwise, the situation will not only 
worsen, but also invite more donors' comments and as the 
Prime Minister has said more "interference or dictates." 
Does the alliance government want that? 
Thomas