US embassy cable - 05DHAKA4330

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 004330 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR IO/UNO HARRIS 
USUN FOR POL 
NSC FOR WILLIAM-MANIGAULT 
SA/RA FOR SCHLOSSER 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, OVIP, BG, UNGA 
SUBJECT: BANGLADESH: UNGA HIGH LEVEL ATTENDANCE AT 60TH UNGA 
 
REF: (A) State 00122846   (B) Dhaka 03697 
 
1.   Following is updated information about Bangladesh 
participation in the 60th UNGA in New York per Reftel. 
 
A.  Attendance of Head of State: President Iajuddin Ahmed is 
NOT/NOT attending the 60th UNGA. 
 
B.  Attendance of the Head of Government. 
 
--Name: Begum Khaleda Zia, Title: Prime Minister 
--Arrival: At JFK International Airport on September 12 at 
2300 hours via Biman Bangladesh VVIP flight No. BG-001. 
Departure: September 17 at 2100 hours. 
--PM Zia is not married. 
--PM Zia speaks fair English, however, interpretation in 
bangle should be required for any substantive bilateral 
discussions. 
 
C.   Attendance of Foreign Minister: Foreign Minister is 
NOT/NOT accompanying the Prime Minister. Post does not know 
yet if the Foreign Minister will attend the UNGA after the 
Prime Minister's departure from New York. 
 
D.   Attendance of other VIPs. 
 
--Name: Harris Chowdhury, Title: Political Secretary to the 
Prime Minister (He holds the rank of a State Minister which 
is one rank below the Cabinet Minister.) 
--Arrival: Travel dates so far are the same as the Prime 
Minister's. 
--Post is not aware of any plans for his spouse to accompany 
him. 
--No interpretation will be required for bilateral 
discussion. 
 
--Name: Reaz Rahman, Title: Advisor on Foreign Affairs (He 
holds the rank of a State Minister which is one rank below 
the Cabinet Minister). In the order of precedence, Rahman is 
the highest ranking official accompanying the Prime 
Minister. 
--Arrival: Travel dates for him so far are the same as the 
Prime Minister's. 
--Post is not aware of any plans for his spouse to accompany 
him. 
--No interpretation will be required for bilateral 
discussions. 
 
--Name: Mohammad Mosaddak Ali, Title: Member of Parliament. 
-Arrival: His travel dates so far are same as the Prime 
Minister's. 
--Post if not aware of any plans for his spouse to accompany 
him. 
--Mr. Ali will require Bangla translation for any 
discussions. 
 
--Name: Rozy Kabir, Title: Member of Parliament-Select, and 
Personal assistant to the Prime Minister. 
--Arrival: Her travel dates so far are the same as the Prime 
Minister. 
--Post is not aware of any plans for her spouse to join her 
on this trip. 
--Mr. Kabir will require Bangla translation for any 
discussions. 
 
E.   Attendance of foreign ministry official responsible for 
IO affairs. 
 
--Name: Fazlul Karim, Title: Director General, UN desk 
--Arrival: His travel dates so far are same as the Prime 
Minister's. 
--Post is not aware of any plans for his spouse to accompany 
him. 
--No interpretation will be needed for bilateral 
discussions. 
 
2.   The Prime Minister's entourage may consist of 26 
members, excluding her.  The entourage includes security 
officials, her personal staff, and press and Television 
crew. The Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA, Mr. Shamsher M. 
Chowdhury, and the Bangladesh Permanent secretary to the UN, 
Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, are also scheduled to join the 
Bangladesh delegation to the UN. 
Chammas