US embassy cable - 05DHAKA4207

S E C R E T DHAKA 004207 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SA AND DS/IP AND DS/ITA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PTER, CASC, BG, Terrorism 
SUBJECT: AUGUST 17 BOMBING INVESTIGATION CONTINUES 
 
REF: A. A. DHAKA 4089 
     B. B. DHAKA 4108 
 
Classified By: A/Pol Counselor David Renz, reasons para 1.4(d) 
 
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Bangladesh Government continues its 
investigations to determine the masterminds behind the August 
17 bombings.  The arrest of a former Islamic Foundation 
director has created significant publicity. The PM and BNP 
General Secretary assure the public that the BDG is doing all 
that it can and promise a conclusive police report on last 
year's August 21 grenade attacks against Sheik Hasina in a 
few days.  END SUMMARY 
 
2. (S)  As investigations and arrests surrounding the 503 
bombs that injured 191 and killed two on August 17 (reftel A 
and B) continue, Home Minister Babar has directed law 
enforcement officials to capture JMB leader Abdur Rahman "at 
any cost," according to press reports.  Local media report 
that "so far, all the arrested JMB men have given identical 
confessions saying that Abdur Rahman had orchestrated the 
attacks."  Our Directorate General of Forces Intelligence 
sources tell us that at least four of the arrested have 
confessed their affiliation to JMB but did not state any 
specific mentioning of Rahman. 
 
3. (C) PM Zia reportedly gave law enforcers 15 days to hunt 
down the criminals and unearth any foreign links as she 
personally supervises investigations.  On August 23, Home 
Secretary Hossain told poloff that capturing the masterminds 
 
SIPDIS 
behind the August 17 bombing was "very difficult" and that he 
was not necessarily confident that the BDG could identify and 
arrest them.  A National Security Intelligence (NSI) source 
says that neither Abdur Rahman nor Bangla Bhai may currently 
be in Bangladesh. 
 
4. (SBU) On August 22, the BDG arrested former director of 
the Islamic Foundation, a semi-government entity, Moulana 
Fariduddin Masud as he was boarding a flight bound for London 
on suspicion of links to an Islamist militant network.  Law 
enforcement agencies claim he has a connection to the August 
17 blasts as a central leader of the JMB while newspapers 
report that he is an Islamic scholar who controls an NGO, a 
hospital, and some madrassahs, each of which reportedly 
received substantial funds from the UK and the Middle East. 
In response to his arrest, Masud has accused Jamaat-e-Islami 
(JI) Ameer (leader) and Minister of Industries Nizami as 
"responsible for the bombings and plotting to have me 
arrested."  The Awami League (AL) refuted press reports about 
Masud's link to AL's Islamic scholar front. 
 
5. (SBU) On August 22, PM Zia reassured various ready-made 
garment industry leaders that "there is no scope for 
practicing extremism in the name of Islam," and that the 
perpetrators of the bombings would be identified and "dealt 
with a strong hand," according to press reports.  Ready-made 
garment industry leaders paid a visit to the PM because 
prospective foreign buyers have canceled recent visits in 
response to the bombings and they are worried that buyers 
would shift their attention to other markets if the situation 
does not improve.  According to press reports, business 
leaders have plans to arrange a dialogue between PM Zia and 
Opposition leader Sheik Hasina to discuss solutions and 
cooperation in the August 17 aftermath. The general manager 
of a major local hotel, however, told econoff that bookings 
were back to normal within days after August 17. 
 
6. (SBU) In a BNP organized protest rally against the August 
17 bombings, Secretary General Bhuiyan promised that the 
investigation into the August 21, 2004, grenade attacks on 
Awami League leaders was in its final stages and that a 
formal charge sheet (conclusive police report after 
investigation) would be submitted within a few days. 
 
7. (C) COMMENT:  Masud's accusations against Nizami following 
Masud's arrest comes in the context of long-standing enmity 
between AL aligned Masud and the BNP-JI alliance.  In 
Bangladesh's polarized political climate, it is not unlikely 
for the ruling party to use the August 17 bombings to hash 
out existing political rivalries.  AL's denial of links to 
Masud suggest, however, that the AL believes he might be a 
viable suspect.  END COMMENT. 
CHAMMAS