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RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0108

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 000327 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2018 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KGOV KDEM BG
SUBJECT: INSPECTOR GENERAL OF PRISONS DISCUSSES THE 
CHALLENGES OF HOLDING HIGH-PROFILE DETAINEES 
 
REF: A. 07 DHAKA 1584 
 
     ¶B. DHAKA 250 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Geeta Pasi; reasons 1.4(d) 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY. In a recent meeting, the Inspector General of 
Prisons discussed with POLOFF the health conditions of the 
two jailed former prime ministers.  He also said he was 
trying to arrange for Sigma Huda, a prominent human rights 
activist, to be transferred back to the hospital for further 
treatment.  He expressed frustration at the limitations under 
which he was working -- particularly the lack of secure 
hospital beds with adequate guard coverage for prisoners, and 
the lack of guards to provide protection for the numerous 
high-profile prisoners in his custody. END SUMMARY. 
 
HASINA, ZIA DISPLAY DIFFERENT ATTITUDES BEHIND BARS 
============================================= ====== 
 
¶2. (C) Recently, POLOFF met the Inspector General of Police 
(IGP), Brigadier General Md Zakir Hassan, to discuss ongoing 
issues related to the detention of prisoners under the state 
of emergency.   Hassan was appointed to the position of IGP 
in 2006 and has undertaken major reforms of the prison system 
over the past year. (Reftel A)  In his capacity, he is 
responsible for the 67 prisons throughout Bangladesh, as well 
as the special sub-jails in Dhaka created for the two 
arrested former prime ministers and the secure medical 
facilities at the Post-Graduate (PG) Hospital, one of the 
largest public hospitals in Dhaka. 
 
¶3. (C) The IGP told POLOFF he had visited former prime 
ministers Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia several times, most 
recently two days earlier.  During Hasina's corruption trial, 
which is currently suspended for legal reasons, the judge 
excused Hasina from the proceedings after she suffered an 
attack of vertigo brought on by high blood pressure.  The IGP 
said the treatment for this type of medical condition is bed 
rest and medication. He thought Hasina was more 
psychologically distraught than physically ill, though he 
admitted her nerves were likely a contributing factor to her 
blood pressure. 
 
¶4. (C) The IGP said he has tried to accommodate Hasina's 
wishes regarding her medical care, though it is up to the 
government, not the prison system, to decide on whether to 
send her abroad for treatment. When the IGP has brought in 
prominent Dhaka doctors of his choosing to examine Hasina -- 
to provide what he called an "objective" assessment of her 
condition -- she has refused to see them.  In addition, 
Hasina has been allowed to see doctors of her choosing for 
various ailments.  To the frustration of the IGP, these 
doctors have tended to speak to the press after leaving 
Hasina, often making political statements and allegedly 
exaggerating her condition. (NOTE: On March 11, Hasina agreed 
to go to a private hospital to be examined by a panel of 
physicians to determine whether recurrent ear ailments -- the 
result of an August 2004 assassination attempt -- required 
treatment abroad.  The doctors, who were chosen by Hasina, 
reportedly recommended unanimously she be permitted to travel 
to the US for treatment, saying she risked permanent hearing 
damage if she did not receive proper care soon.  The prison 
authorities said they would pass the recommendation to the 
government for further action. END NOTE.) 
 
¶5. (C) Khaleda Zia, on the other hand, is far less demanding, 
though seemingly in more pain, according to  the IGP.  She 
suffers from acute arthritis, particularly in the knees, and 
recently her elbow has swelled up, preventing her from 
bending her arm. She has also suffered toothaches that have 
left her in severe pain.  Like Hasina, Zia is attended by 
doctors of her choosing, but she has not demanded outside 
treatment. 
 
¶6. (C) The IGP assured POLOFF attorneys for both high-profile 
defendants are permitted access to their clients, though they 
have to apply in advance through the Home Ministry's Special 
Branch of Police. 
 
 
DHAKA 00000327  002 OF 002 
 
 
CONTINUED FRUSTRATION OVER SIGMA HUDA 
===================================== 
 
¶7. (C) The IGP expressed frustration over the Sigma Huda 
situation. Sigma, a UN Rapporteur on Anti-Trafficking and a 
prominent human rights activist, has been charged with 
several counts of extortion.  She is appealing her conviction 
on one set of charges and currently is undergoing trial in 
another case.  The IGP said there was no doubt Sigma was 
unwell -- she suffers from heart and kidney ailments as well 
as diabetes -- but the entire prison system, with over 87,000 
inmates, is serviced by only sixteen hospital beds at PG 
Hospital.  Sigma was moved back to the VIP section of the 
Dhaka Central Jail because there were other prisoners who 
required more immediate attention than she did. (Reftel B) 
 
¶8. (C) According to the IGP, the prison system does not have 
enough guards to move ill prisoners into private hospitals, 
and Sigma could not be treated at home unless the court 
grants her bail -- a decision beyond the IGP's purview.  The 
IGP said that only the day before, a regular prisoner being 
treated in an unsecured room at PG Hospital for an emergency 
managed to escape from his two guards. The prisoner had been 
convicted of theft and murder, and his escape caused the IGP 
great embarrassment. 
 
¶9. (C) These challenges notwithstanding, the IGP told POLOFF 
he had freed up a room at the PG Hospital, and Sigma could be 
moved back to the hospital soon.   In response to a request 
from Sigma's family members that prison authorities let them 
bring her meals as she is diabetic, the IGP said this was 
against prison regulations (on security grounds) but he would 
reconsider the matter. (NOTE: Sigma was moved back into the 
hospital two days after the IGP met with POLOFF. Sigma's 
sister also told POLOFF the family was working out an 
arrangement with prison authorities to provide special food 
for her. END NOTE) 
 
COMMENT 
======= 
 
¶10. (C) The lack of resources and manpower for the prisons 
are challenges even under normal circumstances, but the 
influx of high-profile prisoners has added to the strain on 
the system.  The IGP is also hamstrung by Hasina's apparent 
determination to make a public relations campaign of what may 
or may not be a serious illness.  He said repeatedly the last 
thing he wants is for anything to happen to anyone in his 
custody.  He is clearly concerned that if anything does 
happen to the high-profile prisoners in particular, he will 
be blamed.  Regardless of his motivation, the IGP appears to 
be doing his best to improve prison conditions and find 
solutions for the difficult situations facing key prisoners. 
Pasi