VZCZCXRO2403
RR RUEHCI
DE RUEHKA #0411 0710905
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 120905Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3501
INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1536
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 9721
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 8974
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 7816
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA

UNCLAS DHAKA 000411 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM BG
SUBJECT: MILITARY-LED BODY TO COMBAT CRIMES AND CORRUPTION 
 
(SBU) Summary: The government of Bangladesh has issued a 
notification formalizing a military dominated "National Coordination 
Committee" with the army's ninth division General Officer Commanding 
(GOC), Major General Masud Uddin Chowdhury, as its Chief Coordinator 
to assist in its ongoing sweep against corruption and serious 
crimes. The government has also formed metropolitan/zonal committees 
for seven "Areas" conforming to the existing division of the country 
into the army's command areas and "Task Forces" for each of the 64 
districts with powers to conduct searches and detain suspects 
without warrants. End Summary. 
 
(U) On March 8, the Cabinet Division issued a gazette notification 
creating a National Coordination Committee headed by Caretaker 
Government's Advisor Maj. Gen. (Retired) M.A. Matin as its chairman 
and Bangladesh Army's ninth division GOC, Major General Masud Uddin 
Chowdhury, as Chief Coordinator. All army GOCs representing and 
coordinating for their respective command Areas will serve on the 
committee, which will also include the Secretary to the Chief 
Advisor's Office, Secretary to the Anti-corruption commission (ACC), 
Chairman, National Board of Revenue (NBR), Inspector General of 
Police (IGP) or Additional IGP of the Special Branch, Additional 
Secretary (Legislative) of the Law Ministry, Director General (DG) 
 
SIPDIS 
or Additional DG of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Deputy DG of 
Bangladesh Rifles, one director each from the National Security 
Intelligence (NSI)and Directorate General of Forces Intelligence 
(DGFI), Director of Military Operations, Joint Secretary (Political) 
of the Home Ministry, and a Deputy or Additional Attorney General. 
 
(U) The national committee will evaluate and update the lists of 
criminals prepared by different government departments and agencies, 
recommend legal action against the listed individuals, coordinate 
appointment of local or foreign consultants, accountants, auditors 
and experts to conduct the investigations, and appoint 
sub-committees to coordinate, monitor, and supervise procedural and 
legal matters related to the conduct of cases against them. The 
notification is retroactive to February 4, 2007. 
 
(U) A Brigadier-General or an official of equivalent rank heads each 
of the seven metropolitan/zonal committees for  Dhaka-Savar, Ghatail 
(Tangail), Chittagong, Comilla, Bogra, Rangpur and Jessore Areas. 
This committee will assign tasks to different Task Forces and 
coordinate investigation, filing of charges, and prosecution of 
cases. It will evaluate progress in the cases and recommend 
appropriate action. If necessary, it will attach or seize the 
movable and immovable property of the criminals. Each of the 64 
districts will have one or more Task Forces headed by a military 
major or an official of equivalent rank. The metropolitan/zonal 
committees and the Task Forces have been authorized full access to 
information about any establishments belonging to the crime and 
corruption suspects, are granted power to conduct searches and order 
detentions without warrants and are authorized to retrieve any 
wealth or money they might have siphoned off the country. 
 
(U) Replying to questions from reporters about any overlap between 
the authorities of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the 
National Coordination Committee (NCC), NCC Chief Coordinator 
Chowdhury said his committee is only assisting the ACC, which does 
not have adequate manpower. ACC chairman and former army chief, 
Lieutenant General (Retired) Hasan Mashud Chowdhury also termed the 
creation of the NCC a "positive" step. 
 
(SBU) Comment: The NCC structure, flowing down to the district 
level, resembles, to an extent, the military administrative set-up 
of the martial law governments that ruled the country in the late 
1970s and most of the 1980s. This tactful militarization of the 
administration may be indicative of the military's resolve to play a 
vital role in running the country without declaring martial law. End 
Comment 
 
PASI