US embassy cable - 05DHAKA2265

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 002265 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/13/2010 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, BG 
SUBJECT: A/S ROCCA MEETS WITH SHEIKH HASINA AND TOP AWAMI 
LEAGUERS 
 
 
Classified By: Acting Political Chief David Renz; reason: 1.4 (d) 
 
1. (C) Summary: Awami League (AL) leader Sheikh Hasina 
expressed satisfaction with the recent AL mayoral election 
victory and recounted the continued deficiencies of the BNP 
led government during her meeting with A/S Rocca. The AL 
wants to run in the 2006/07 national elections but is 
concerned about possible BNP manipulations. End Summary. 
 
2. (U) On May 12, Assistant Secretary for South Asia 
Christina Rocca, Ambassador, and poloff (note taker) met for 
one hour with opposition Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina 
and her executive committee: Saber Chowdhury, Abdul Jalil, 
Alhaj Syed Abul Hossain (AL Secretary for International 
Affairs) and former Bangladeshi Ambassadors Mohammad Ziauddin 
and K.M. Shehabbuddin. 
 
3. (C) Announcing "Well, I'm still alive," Hasina reminded 
A/S Rocca that those responsible for the attack last May on 
the British High Commissioner and the August 21 attack at an 
AL rally have not been found.  Rocca said that the US 
continues to press for investigations of these incidents. 
Hasina was dissatisfied with the arrests of the alleged 
killers in the Kibria case; she believes the real 
conspirators remain free. She further complained that the 
Parliament refuses to let the AL discuss the matter, asking 
rhetorically "What do they have to hide?" 
 
4. (C) Hasina and others said that the overall law and order 
situation continues to worsen, noting deteriorating respect 
for human rights, extra-judicial killings by police and the 
Rapid Action Battalion, and the government's failure to 
arrest those behind the Chittagong arms haul.  Lack of law 
and order and the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in 
Bangladesh are related, they argued.  Saber Chowdhury said 
the fundamentalists are exploiting such "fault lines" for 
political advantage.  He accused the government of only 
agreeing to conduct thorough investigations into all 
unresolved killings, including cross-fire deaths, because of 
A/S Rocca's visit. 
 
5. (C) A/S Rocca asked for AL's views on the party's recent 
victory in Chittagong. Saber and others complained that "they 
(the BNP) tried to change the result" through intimidation, 
alleging BNP supporters killed two AL election workers before 
the election, slowed down the voting process so AL voters 
would lose patience and go home without voting, set off 
explosions, and refused to announce the AL victory. "However, 
because we were alert, the people's voice was heard," Saber 
asserted.  Several people present indicated the AL would use 
these allegations and their election victory to argue the 
public supports election reform and early national elections. 
 
 
6. (C) Hasina and her party leaders assured A/S Rocca that 
the AL wants to participate in national elections, but 
questioned whether there can be fair elections given the BNP 
government's continued attempts to undermine and manipulate 
the election process and influence the Electoral Commission. 
To protect the process, the AL and its coalition partners 
will propose a package of their electoral reforms by the end 
of the month. 
 
7. (U) Christina Rocca has cleared this message. 
THOMAS