US embassy cable - 05DHAKA6071

UNCLAS DHAKA 006071 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR DSERCC 
DEPT FOR DS/IP/SA 
DEPT FOR DS/DSS/ITA 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: ASEC 
SUBJECT:  Demonstration near the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka, 
Bangladesh. 
 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PROTECT ACCORDINGLY 
 
1. (SBU) Summary.  A large pro-BNP (Bangladeshi ruling 
party) demonstration occurred in the immediate vicinity 
of the Embassy on December 12, 2005.  Post had received 
no prior notice of the demonstration although police 
appeared to know well in advance.  The demonstration 
lasted for approximately two and a half hours and with 
no reports of violence.  End Summary. 
 
2. (SBU) On December 12, 2005 the Regional Security 
Office (RSO) was notified that a procession of 
approximately 150 demonstrators were seen marching 
along Pragati Sharani, the street passing between the 
Chancery compound and the GSO compound, in the 
direction of the Embassy.  Surveillance Detection 
assets observed the procession and immediately began 
reporting through their channels. 
 
3. (SBU) The procession stopped near a police station 
on the east side of the intersection through which all 
Embassy traffic between the two compounds passes. There 
is a local BNP office in this vicinity.  The SD team 
monitored the event and reported that the demonstration 
swelled from an initial 150 demonstrators to nearly 
2500 before the group broke. 
 
4. (SBU) Although there had been a small announcement 
in local newspapers announcing numerous rallies and 
demonstrations across the country, the RSO had received 
no prior notice that one location was to be in the 
immediate vicinity of the Embassy. 
 
5. (SBU) To complicate matters, the demonstration began 
at 1630 when the Embassy was closing for the day and 
employees would be passing through the intersection on 
the way to their homes.  In light of recent attacks by 
suicide bombers in crowds, the RSO notified all Embassy 
employees by email and made an announcement from Post 
One advising employees to avoid the intersection if 
possible and all other public gatherings. 
 
6. (SBU) RSO is addressing the issue of sharing 
information with the local police. 
 
7. (U) POC is Regional Security Office Dhaka, 8802-885- 
5500 X2288.