VZCZCXRO3719
PP RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPW
DE RUEHKA #0071/01 0210633
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 210633Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9922
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 2226
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON PRIORITY 2983
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDRUSARPAC FT SHAFTER HI PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC PRIORITY
RHHMHAA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI PRIORITY
RHHMUNS/COMSOCPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKDIA/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 000071 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/INSB, S/CT, AND PM 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2025 
TAGS: PREL PINS EAID PTER PHUM MASS MCAP SNAR BG
SUBJECT: PACIFIC COMMAND SUPPORT FOR BANGLADESH SHOWCASED 
FOR SENATE ARMED SERVICES STAFFERS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty.  Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (C) A January 12-13 visit to Bangladesh by Professional 
Staff Members from the Senate Armed Services Committee 
highlighted the integration of U.S. Pacific Command programs 
with U.S. Mission Dhaka's efforts to support development, 
deny space to terrorists and extremists, and enhance 
democracy.  The StaffDel visited multipurpose cyclone 
shelters funded by PACOM that will protect rural populations 
during natural disasters and serve as schools and community 
centers during other times.  The StaffDel also traveled to 
Bangladesh's Naval Special Warfare and Diving Salvage unit, 
through which Mission Dhaka and PACOM are supporting 
Bangladesh's efforts to secure better its long maritime 
border.  Mission Dhaka also briefed the StaffDel on USG 
efforts to improve the human rights record of Bangladesh's 
main counter-terrorism force, the Rapid Action Battalion 
(RAB). 
 
StaffDel Visits Cyclone Shelters 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Michael Noblet, Michael Kostiw, and Adam Barker, 
Professional Staff Members for the Senate Armed Services 
Committee visited the sites of two Multipurpose Cyclone 
Shelters (MPCSs), part of a Civil-Military Support Element 
(CMSE) project near Khulna, in southwest Bangladesh. 
Approximately 20 community leaders and 200 schoolchildren met 
with the delegation as they toured the shelters.  The local 
community utilizes the shelters visited primarily as Schools 
and during disasters each shelter will protect 1,200 people. 
The CMSE project will build 23 shelters in southern 
Bangladesh, which is particularly vulnerable to cyclones. 
The Civil-Military Support Element developed its shelter 
program in tandem with USAID, which is also working to 
strengthen Bangladesh's cyclone shelter network.  Cyclone 
shelters are a key instrument in Bangladesh's toolkit for 
managing the natural disasters that regularly hit this 
country.  In 2007, Cyclone Sidr ravished the Khulna region of 
Bangladesh, killing 4,000 people and displacing millions 
more. 
 
StaffDel Meets with SWADS 
------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (C) StaffDel Noblet also toured the training facilities 
of Bangladesh's Special Warfare and Diving Salvage unit 
(SWADS) at Chittagong Naval Base, in southeastern Banglash. 
The SWADS Commander and Chittagong Naval Base Commodore 
discussed the SWADS' progress and USG support for 
strengthening Bangladesh's ability to protect its large 
coastline, which is vulnerable to terrorist and criminal 
smuggling.  The SWADS Commander outlined a timetable for 
staffing and training the unit, equipment needs, and future 
roles for the SWADS.  SWADS officers briefed StaffDel Noblet 
on the 100-acre facility the Bangladesh Navy will build for 
the SWADS, which will include barracks, maintenance 
facilities, training ranges, equipment storerooms, and 
offices.  The SWADS Commander, Commodore, and Bangladesh 
Naval officers who briefed the delegation highlighted the 
important role U.S. assistance has had in establishing the 
SWADS and enhancing the Bangladesh Navy's overall 
capabilities to improve maritime security. 
 
Moving Forward with the RAB 
--------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (C) Mission Dhaka briefed StaffDel Noblet on efforts to 
engage the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Bangladesh's primary 
counterterrorism unit.  EmbOffs focused on USG efforts to 
improve the RAB's human rights record and the commitment of 
RAB's leadership to making progress in this area.  Mr. Noblet 
said he understood that Bangladesh's Police Act, written in 
1861, did little to protect the rights of the community; he 
 
DHAKA 00000071  002 OF 002 
 
 
agreed that legal and judicial reform was an important 
element in addressing human rights issues within the RAB and 
other Bangladesh law enforcement agencies.  The Mission 
briefed the StaffDel on the high-level, inter-agency effort 
in Washington and Dhaka to shape USG policy towards the RAB 
and implement activities to bring about meaningful change 
within the RAB. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶5.  (C) Mission Dhaka highlighted for StaffDel Noblet the 
vital contributions made by Pacific Command, particularly the 
PACOM Augmentation Team (PAT), to the key USG objectives in 
Bangladesh: enhancing democracy, promoting development, and 
denying space to terrorists and extremists.  Programs like 
the cyclone shelters improve Bangladesh's ability to respond 
to disasters, which will likely increase as Bangladesh copes 
with global climate change.  The Special Warfare and Diving 
Unit will deter terrorists and criminals from using 
Bangladesh as a platform to target interests in South Asia 
and beyond.  Mission Dhaka also showcased the tight 
integration of PACOM programs into Mission activities more 
broadly.  PACOM's resources, agility and flexibility have 
greatly enhanced the USG's ability to advance its goals in 
Bangladesh, particularly during times of crisis. 
MORIARTY