This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L DHAKA 006190 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2015 
TAGS: PTER PREL BG BG JI
SUBJECT: DISSENT FROM A CHIEF ZIA ADVISOR 
 
Classified By: CDA Judith Chammas; reason para 1.4(d) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary:  PMO insider Siddiqui told Charge at least 50 
BNP MP's want to drop Jamaat Islami from the ruling 
coalition, acknowledged that the BDG has failed to recognize 
JMB's terrorist potential, and accused Tarique Rahman of 
arranging the release of Bangla Bhai's reputed number two. 
Siddiqui is a strong critic of Tarique and JI.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) On December 14, Charge met for one hour with 
Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Dr. Kamal 
Siddiqui.   EconOff (note taker) accompanied. 
 
¶3.  (C) Siddiqui immediately raised the spate of attacks 
attributed to Jamaat'ul Mujahadin Bangladesh (JMB).  He 
acknowledged BDG missteps, in particular its failure to 
recognize JMB's terrorist potential and the protection of 
senior JMB figures by influential BNP leaders.  JMB, he said, 
is filled with former Jamaat Islami (JI) members who broke 
away when JI aligned with BNP.  Some JI members, he said, 
maintain supportive links to JMB.  When asked, Siddiqui 
declined to give names or more specific information.  He also 
said: "There is no doubt that there are some foreigners 
helping JMB.  There is a nagging suspicion that this is the 
work of 'the big brother.'" 
 
¶4.  (C) Charge told Siddiqui that wild speculation about 
Indian or Awami League (AL) involvement with the JMB 
undermined BDG credibility as a committed foe of extremism. 
The BDG, she added, would be judged by concrete actions, like 
its ability to arrest senior JMB leaders, prevent future 
attacks, and hold ruling coalition figures accountable for 
their ties to extremists.  The USG, she noted, is willing to 
support the BDG's anti-extremism efforts, even though we have 
been disappointed by the BDG's lukewarm response to our 
offers of technical assistance in the JMB investigation. 
 
¶5. (C) Siddiqui cited growing anger within the BNP over its 
partnership with JI.  There are at least 50 MPs, he said, who 
do not support retaining JI as part of the alliance.  He 
stated that he has mentioned his concerns to the Prime 
Minister, saying Bangladeshis view JI as an embarrassment to 
the BNP.  JI "negates what I have stood for my entire life," 
recalling JI's notorious support for Pakistan during the 1971 
Liberation War. 
 
¶6. (C) Siddiqui stated that the Rapid Action Battalion had 
arrested Kamarul, Bangla Bhai's reputed deputy, but that an 
agitated Home Minister of State Babar had complained that he 
had been forced to release him quickly after the intervention 
of Tarique Rahman, PM Zia's son and heir apparent, acting at 
the behest of State Minister for Land Dulu.  He referred to 
Tarique as "Wind Tunnel," a translation of the name of his 
Hawa Bhaban office.  "Wind Tunnel has some psycho friends" 
that he listens to because of his lack of experience, 
Siddiqui groaned. 
 
¶7. (C) Comment: Siddiqui made no reference to the previous 
day's arrest of JMB commander Ataur Rahman Sunny, made public 
five hours later at a RAB press conference; it is equally 
hard to believe that he was unaware of it or that he would 
not have mentioned it in the course of this conversation. 
Siddiqui has complained to us many times about Tariq, whom he 
views as unsophisticated and dangerous, but he remains loyal 
to PM Zia and the BNP. 
CHAMMAS