US embassy cable - 05DHAKA3731

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 003731 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, EAID, ASEC, PTER, BG, Rural Development 
SUBJECT: CDA CALLS ON MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND 
RURAL DEVELOPMENT 
 
REF: DHAKA 3603 
 
Classified By: CDA JUDITH CHAMMAS, Reason(s): 1.4 (d) 
 
1. (C) Summary: CDA called on Minister for Local Government, 
Rural Development and Cooperatives and Secretary General of 
the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Abdul Mannan Bhuyian. 
He expressed confidence in the strength of the BNP four-party 
coalition, and stated that the recent IOJ by-election victory 
was due to BNP voter support, and that the BNP is open to 
discussion on election reform but less open on reforms to the 
caretaker system.  End Summary. 
 
2. (SBU) On July 27, Charge D'Affaires called on Minister for 
Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives Abdul 
Mannan Bhuyian with poloff (notetaker). Bhuyian's Personal 
Secretary, Waliul Islam, was also present at the 45-minute 
 
SIPDIS 
meeting.  Bhuyian is Secretary General of the BNP and his 
ministry is responsible for local government services and 
agencies, including roads, water, sanitation, and electricity 
for all municipalities and local councils in rural areas.  He 
is also charged with rural development projects focused on 
poverty alleviation. 
 
3. (C)  CDA stated that the USG is committed to improved 
relations and continued cooperation with Bangladesh.  Bhuyian 
responded that Bangladesh is always ready to work with the 
US, and noted that our "peacekeepers are always sent when 
asked."  As for extremists, Bhuyian said that if "we catch 
them, we will punish them." 
 
4. (C) When asked about the Islami Oikko Jote (IOJ) victory 
(reftel) in the July 20 by-election in Sunamganj, Bhuyian 
stated that they won because "our people voted for him." Both 
Jammaat Islami and IOJ will continue to be part of the BNP 
led coalition, but he predicted they will get no more than 
four to five seats in the future.  "We (the BNP) don't need 
their help, but others said we need them to be more secure" 
and so sought their help.  AL has 37 percent of the vote and 
BNP has 37 percent but, although I am "personally against" 
the coalition with the religious groups, we now have a 
comfort margin, he told CDA. 
 
5. (C) In response to questions about AL election reform 
proposals, Bhuyian responded that they have included many 
actions that are already covered by existing law and 
therefore unneeded.  Some of their proposals can be discussed 
but some are simply not possible, like the consensus of all 
of the political parties for appointing the chief caretaker 
adviser.  "We have hundreds of parties," plus relations 
between the two major parties are so bad that "if we propose 
something, the AL would say no, and if they propose 
something, we would say no."  He emphasized that it was the 
Election Commission that needed to be strengthened and not 
the caretaker government. 
 
6. (C) Bhuyian was open to discussion with the AL, saying 
that "we will discuss this in parliament as well as outside 
of parliament."  In response to a question as to which party 
will reach out first, he responded, "I'm not designated but I 
can discuss issues with them as General Secretary." He added 
that while BNP can discuss strengthening the Election 
Commission, the AL wants the army in the hands of the 
caretaker government and not the President.  That would be 
wrong as "he is the only one in the government who is an 
elected official." 
CHAMMAS