VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKA #0724 0430823
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 120823Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5227

UNCLAS DHAKA 000724 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/NEA-SCA, DS/DSS/CC, DS/IP/ITA, DS/ICI/PII 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC
SUBJECT:  EMBASSY DHAKA USAID LOCAL CONTRACTOR ROBBED AT 
GUNPOINT 
 
REF: DHAKA 108, DHAKA 519 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PROTECT ACCORDINGLY 
 
¶1. On February 12, 2006, ARSO was notified that a USAID 
contractor had been the subject of a robbery in the Diplomatic 
Enclave. 
 
¶2. On February 12, 2006, ARSO interviewed the contractor 
(employee works for RTI International and this organization 
receives donor money from USAID and has a close Embassy 
affiliation). The contractor stated that on February 8, at 
approximately 20:00, the contractor hired a three wheeled 
"baby taxi" to take him home from the Gulshan area (within the 
Diplomatic Enclave where emboff residences are located). While 
on his way home, in the enclave area of Banani, at the 
intersection of Road 27 and Kemal Ataturk Ave., the CNG slowed 
down and several young men entered from both sides of the CNG. 
One suspect sat on the lap of the contractor and covered the 
mouth of the contractor. During this time, one of the suspects 
sitting next to him brandished what felt like was a small 
caliber gun and shoved it in the ribs of the contractor. The 
suspects gave several strikes to the head of the contractor. 
All throughout, the baby taxi driver was driving around 
without any guidance. The suspects then searched the backpack 
of the contractor and took a laptop computer, mobile phone, 
and approximately 180 dollars in local currency. Finally, the 
suspects told the contractor to close his eyes or else he 
would go blind. After closing his eyes, the suspects rubbed an 
unknown ointment that burned the eyes. The contractor was then 
thrown out of the CNG. After being able to see a little, the 
contractor made his way to a phone shop and managed to call 
his office where a colleague came and picked him up. 
 
 
¶3. The contractor later went to the local police station to 
make a report. 
 
¶4. RSO Comment: This is the third violent crime within about a 
month for embassy affiliated staff (reftels A-B). RSO believes 
that this crime is growing because of the success of this 
particular criminal attack and the inability of the police to 
investigate such crimes. At this point, it does not seem that 
Mission personnel are being targets, but rather the 
individuals have been targeted because they might have 
resembled businessmen. However, the fact that these crimes are 
happening within the diplomatic enclave on a regular basis is 
cause for concern. Furthermore, it seems that there are 
reoccurring themes to these robberies: 
 
A) The employee is immediately overtaken without any chance of 
escaping from the situation; 
B) The group of suspects seems to be collaborating with the 
driver of the baby taxi; 
C) Gratuitous violence is used to intimidate; 
D) A firearm is brandished; 
E) The suspects use a skin burning agent to incapacitate the 
victim and prevent them from identifying the suspects or taxi; 
 
Mission employees have continued to face criminal activity 
throughout Dhaka, especially on public transportation. RSO 
continues to recommend against the use of public 
transportation due to safety and security concerns, but for 
locally employed staff, this is typically not an option. With 
the recent trends in mind, and an established area of 
operation, the RSO will be working with the Dhaka Metropolitan 
Police to try and apprehend the individuals. Furthermore, RSO 
will issue a security notice outlining recent crime trends 
that specifically address this type of crime and measures that 
LES can take to minimize their chance of becoming a victim. 
 
¶5.  (U)  Point of contact is Regional Security Office Dhaka, 
8802-885-5500 X2228. 
 
CHAMMAS