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OO RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHKA #1182/01 3221001
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 171001Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7721
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1858
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 1566
RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 001182 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/PB AND SCA/FO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2018 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR PINS KDET PTER BG
SUBJECT: SHEIKH HASINA COMMITTED TO ELECTIONS ON DECEMBER 
18, BUT WORRIED ABOUT EXTREMIST THREATS 
 
REF: DHAKA 1158 
 
DHAKA 00001182  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty.  Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
SUMMARY 
======= 
 
¶1. (C) Awami League President Sheikh Hasina insists 
Bangladesh's parliamentary elections must take place on 
December 18, with or without the BNP's participation.  For 
Hasina, violent extremist groups represent the greatest 
threat to the restoration of democracy; she fears terrorist 
attacks within the next month.  The Awami League's slate of 
candidates will include more young leaders, women, and 
retired army officers.  Energy sector and infrastructure 
development top the list of Hasina's post-election 
priorities.  A month from elections, the prospects for an 
Awami League victory look good, as do the opportunities for 
closer U.S.-Bangladesh cooperation in promoting democracy, 
development, and denial of space to terrorists. 
 
Elections on December 18: With or Without BNP 
============================================= 
 
¶2. (C)  Following up on the Ambassador's meeting a day 
following Sheikh Hasina's return to Bangladesh (reftel), P/E 
Counselor held a one hour one-on-one meeting with the Awami 
League President November 16 at her residence in Dhanmondi. 
Hasina,s Private Secretary Dr. Hasan Mahmud arranged the 
meeting, which took place outside the glare of the television 
cameras.  A relaxed Hasina expressed her deep appreciation 
for the USG's consistent support for elections and the 
restoration of democracy.  Hasina was adamant that elections 
had to take place on December 18 as scheduled.  She implored 
the USG to continue to press for elections on the 18th. 
Hasina said she looked forward to meeting with the visiting 
National Democratic Institute Pre-Election Assessment Mission 
which was visiting Bangladesh November 15 ) 20. 
 
¶3.  (C)  As she told the Ambassador, Hasina repeated her 
belief that it was in the BNP's own interest to participate 
in elections.  Hasina was confident that there would be a 
large voter turnout even if the BNP boycotted.  She 
predicted that many potential BNP and Jamaat Islami 
candidates would defy a boycott call and stand for election. 
 Hasina confided that some BNP candidates had even approached 
her asking to join the Awami League.  Hasina said she was 
willing to meet with Begum Zia, but only after the latter had 
committed to participate in the elections. Without such a 
commitment she did not see any point to such a meeting, 
particularly since many of her supporters would oppose such a 
parlay. 
 
New Look Awami League Prepares for Elections 
============================================ 
 
¶4. (C) Hasina said she had focused on the acceptability of 
candidates at the local level when screening lists of 
potential nominees.  Hasina complained that some prospective 
candidates had been absent from their constituencies even 
while their party workers had been suffering during five 
years of BNP rule.  She had decided to nominate those who had 
local support and could win.   Hasina said she also wanted to 
bring more ex-army personnel into the party.   Hasina 
explained the party had almost finalized its nominations and 
commented that before ending her day she needed to sign 300 
letters to the prospective candidates. 
 
¶5. (C)  Hasina said she had told the Jatiya Party to be 
prepared to contest elections independently if the BNP did 
not run.  Even if the JP ran on its own, Hasina would be 
willing to offer the party seats in the next cabinet.  Hasina 
acknowledged that former President Ershad desperately wanted 
to be President again.  However, she could not promise this 
since it would be up to the Parliament to elect the next 
President.  (Comment:  Since the Parliament functions largely 
as an extension of the Prime Minister's will, this answer is 
a disingenuous.  End Comment) 
 
Bad Blood with BNP Remains 
========================== 
 
¶6. (C) Hasina dismissed the BNP's complaints that it had 
suffered more during the State of Emergency than had the 
Awami League.  For example, Hasina said that Begum Zia had 
received preferential treatment while in prison.  Zia was 
allowed a maid, while Hasina could not even see a doctor. 
 
DHAKA 00001182  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
Hasina noted that all parties had agreed to take part in the 
1986 elections. At the last minute, Begum Zia pulled out of 
those elections after giving an inflammatory speech calling 
on the army to rise up.  Zia then disappeared for three days 
amid rumors she had been taken into custody.  According to 
Hasina, this was all an elaborate charade.  Hasina believed 
some in the military must have encouraged Zia to boycott the 
1986 polls.  Hasina thought history might be repeating 
itself, with Zia trying to encourage a segment within the 
army to intervene on her behalf.  Hasina believed Army Chief 
General Moeen Uddin Ahmed wanted elections, but she worried 
about dissent within the ranks. 
 
¶7.  (C) Hasina also alleged that Zia had some "technical 
problems" that were preventing her from registering as a 
voter, now a prerequisite for running for office.  First, Zia 
would be required to prove her date of birth.  This would 
reveal that Zia was not born on August 15 (also the 
anniversary of Hasina's father's assassination).  Second, Zia 
would need to produce proof of her educational 
accomplishments.  Hasina claimed Zia's official biography 
exaggerated her educational level. 
 
Concern about Violent Extremist Threats 
======================================= 
 
¶8. (C)  Hasina said she had been informed of the Rapid Action 
Battalion's arrest earlier that day of an alleged JMB member 
caught in possession of 75kg of explosives (septel).  Hasina 
claimed that her security personnel had warned her that she 
was on a militant "hit list" along with Khaleda Zia and 
General Moeen Uddin Ahmed.  Pointing to the ceiling, Hasina 
said she had told her people that only God could protect her. 
 Hasina predicted that violent extremists would try to cause 
problems in the run up to the elections, including by 
launching attacks within India that would be blamed on 
Bangladesh.  Hasina said she had told her son Sajeeb not to 
return to Bangladesh during the election campaign because of 
threats against his safety.  Hasina emphasized her desire to 
work with the U.S. to fight terrorism. 
 
¶9. (C)  Hasina complained about the Directorate General of 
Forces Intelligence's role in politics, noting that this had 
not been the case during her government.  Hasina alleged that 
during the BNP administration the security services had 
turned a blind eye to the activities of the militant groups. 
Finally, they had to react after the situation had gotten out 
of control. Hasina had plans to professionalize the police, 
improve their pay, and separate the investigation and patrol 
functions.  She wanted the intelligence services to go back 
to focusing on external and transnational threats.  She 
repeated her concerns about former DGFI Counter Terrorism 
Director Amin's role in spawning the Islamic Democratic Party 
as an offshoot of Foreign Terrorist Organization HUJI-B. 
 
Energy and Infrastructure Priorities 
==================================== 
 
¶10. (C)  Hasina said she understood the next government would 
face high expectations and would need to immediately take 
steps to address urgent economic and social problems.  She 
highlighted the need to develop energy resources and 
infrastructure, including ports, river transportation, and 
rail development.  Hasina also argued in favor of greater 
integration with India and Nepal, including through energy 
sharing and transit links.  She wanted to make all education 
free and was looking at improving food security to help 
address the needs of the most vulnerable.  Hasina said that 
AL teams were working on all these issues. 
 
Comment 
======= 
 
¶11.  (C) During the meeting, Hasina noted that this might be 
her last election.  While she may want to promote new leaders 
in order to begin building a legacy, she has also been 
rewarding loyalty in the selection of candidates.   Hasina's 
concerns about her personal security and the broader threat 
of terrorist attack are understandable--and may be justified. 
 She remains vulnerable despite the protection provided by 
the Special Security Force.  Our interactions with Hasina 
since her release from prison in June have been uniformly 
positive and appear to reflect her desire to forge strong 
relations with the U.S. prior to her expected return to 
power.  Thus far, Hasina has been saying all the right 
things. 
Moriarty