US embassy cable - 05DHAKA3414

UNCLAS DHAKA 003414 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, BG 
SUBJECT: AHMADIYAS HAIL IMPROVED POLICE RESPONSIVENESS 
AFTER MOST RECENT ATTACK 
 
1.  (SBU) Following several attempts to prevent the 
construction of an Ahmadiya mosque in the Uttara section of 
Dhaka since February, a group of alleged extremists 
vandalized the construction site on July 18.  According to 
local press reports the vandalism occurred as police stood by 
idly. 
 
2. (SBU) The vandals reportedly pilfered tin sheets at the 
same time as Ahmadiya Amir (Chief) Mobashsherur Rahman met 
with State Minister of Home Affairs Babar and top law 
enforcement officers several miles away.  Rahman's private 
secretary told us that Rahman considered the meeting with 
 
SIPDIS 
Babar productive and cordial.   Babar, he said, assured the 
Ahmadiyas the highest levels of protection for their freedom 
of religion rights and that "no one would be allowed to 
disturb Ahamdiyas". 
 
3. (SBU) Ahmadiya leaders after the meeting described police 
protection as more serious and proactive then before.   The 
Officer in Charge at the Uttara Police Office was highly 
attentive to their needs following the attack on July 18, 
they said, and has already scheduled a reconciliation meeting 
between the parties for immediate dispute resolution. 
 
4. (SBU) Comment: Press reports of police indifference during 
the July 18 incident may, in this case, be over-blown. 
CHAMMAS