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 000563 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2016 
TAGS: KDEM PGOV BG BG BGD
SUBJECT: SCA A/S ROCCA'S MEETING WITH GENERAL ERSHAD 
 
Classified By: CDA Judith Chammas, reasons para 1.4 b, d. 
 
¶1.   (SBU)  On January 27, SCA A/S Christina Rocca met with 
Jatiya Party chairman General Ershad.  Charge and conoff 
(notetaker) were also present. 
 
¶2.  (C)     Asked to comment on the current state of affairs 
in Bangladesh, Ershad replied, &You mean fundamentalism and 
the Election Commission?8  The EC, he asserted,  should be 
fully independent and not be playing &hide and seek games." 
 The EC should have its own budget and authority down to the 
district level, and that the BDG should take action to make 
the electoral process visibly more transparent. 
 
¶3. (C)  Regarding the Awami League (AL) and the upcoming 
elections, Ershad predicted that Sheikh Hasina and the Awami 
League would likely boycott the election unless major changes 
are made.  He stated the view that all parties should 
participate in parliament; otherwise, parliament would 
eventually cease to function.   Bangladeshis, he continued, 
are fed with both the AL and the BNP, and wants a change.  A 
third party can,t win alone, but a strong third party could 
still do well.  Ershad cited as the BNP's major problems 
corruption in government and high prices of 
consumables*especially sugar and cotton. 
 
¶4. (C)  Ershad stated extremism is a new phenomenon for 
Bangladesh.  The current government created Bangla Bhai to 
counter local communist thugs who were extorting money and 
causing problems, he said.  Bangla Bhai and the JMB evolved 
into a well organized national terrorist movement that is "no 
joke."   The BDG is now trying to stop the militants and 
maybe the violence has stopped; however, until Bangla Bhai 
and Abdur Rahman are arrested, it won't stop for certain. 
 
¶5. (C)  Ershad also expressed concern with political violence 
and extra-judicial killings committed by the Rapid Action 
Battalion (RAB).  No other country, he claimed, has a force 
like RAB that is allowed to kill with apparent impunity.  No 
one is safe,  he said.  "I could be picked up tomorrow." 
All people have the constitutionally-guaranteed right of due 
process.  However, people are fed up with corruption and 
extortion, he said, and want to be able to move freely 
throughout the country.  The common people see RAB as helping 
with that situation 
 
¶6. (C)  A/S Rocca underscored the importance of free, fair, 
and transparent elections.  Ershad pointed out that with over 
200,000 polling places in Bangladesh, it is impossible to 
monitor the whole election.  BNP candidates are raising huge 
sums of money for the election, and in the remote areas money 
and muscle dominate politics.   Ershad stated that the EC 
should use transparent plastic ballot boxes so everyone can 
see what is inside.  Ershad mentioned that he believes there 
is a 50/50 chance that the BNP will not win the next election 
because of popular dissatisfaction with its record. 
&Something unexpected will happen.  An election 
revolution,8  he hoped.  Ershad urged the USG to push for 
free and fair elections.  A/S Rocca agreed that free and fair 
elections are extremely important and stated that she hopes 
all parties participate in the upcoming election. 
 
¶7. (U) A/S Rocca cleared this message. 
CHAMMAS