US embassy cable - 05DHAKA1866

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 001866 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, BG, BG Terrorism 
SUBJECT: BHUIYAN ASSURES AMBASSADOR OF BDG COOPERATION 
 
 
Classified By: P/E Counselor D.C. McCullough, reasons 1.4 b, d. 
 
1. (SBU) On April 20, Ambassador Thomas met with Minister of 
Local Government and BNP General Secretary Mannan Bhuiyan to 
reiterate USG concerns about protection for Ahmadiyas, 
extra-judicial killings and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), 
political violence, the importance of the BDG's joining the 
UN Terrorist Financing Convention, due process for imprisoned 
journalist Shoaib Salah Uddin Chowdhury, and to express 
satisfaction with the good level of cooperation between the 
BDG and USG in the last few months. 
 
2. (C) Bhuiyan affirmed that America is "dear friend" to 
Bangladesh especially in the joint fight against terrorism. 
He assured the Ambassador that the BDG will not allow 
terrorists to work in Bangladesh, and that "the basis of the 
BNP is anti-terrorist." 
 
3. (C) Bhuiyan downplayed the strength and significance of 
Jamaat-e-Islaami (JI) and Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ) in the 
ruling party coalition and national politics, and said he 
told other BNP leaders that "we don't need the help of 
religious parties."  He went on to say that the BNP is very 
conscious of JI and IOJ's agenda and that they will not allow 
them to control Bangladesh. 
 
4. (C) Bhuiyan reaffirmed the BDG's commitment to protecting 
the Ahmadiyas against attacks,  promising that the BDG "will 
not let anything happen to them" and invoking the 
government's duty to protect its citizens.  He also cited the 
Bangladesh constitutional guarantees for equal rights and 
freedom of religion. 
 
5. (C) Bhuiyan emphasized that the BDG takes political 
killings seriously, and cited the recent conviction of Nurul 
Islam Sarker, a BNP leader, in the Ahsanullah MP murder case. 
  "Our own leader wasn't spared in the name of justice."  He 
expressed his own shock and dismay with the Kibria killing, 
saying Kibria was a respected person and that the BDG remains 
very open and willing to provide the FBI any facility it 
needs to assist in the investigation. 
 
6. (C) Acknowledging that the police are "very weak" Bhuiyan 
expressed appreciation for USG police training to increase 
police capacity and said he hopes to maintain the good 
relationship between the BDG and USG. 
THOMAS