VZCZCXRO9941
OO RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPW
DE RUEHKA #0065 0190746
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 190746Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8141
INFO RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1939
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHHJJPI/PACOM IDHS HONOLULU HI PRIORITY

UNCLAS DHAKA 000065 
 
SIPDIS 
DEPT PASS TO S/CT DAILEY 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER PGOV KDEM PREL BG
SUBJECT: CRICKET DIPLOMACY A SMASHING SUCCESS 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1. (SBU) An inaugural Embassy-organized Sports Diplomacy day to help 
local police improve relations with the general public through a 
shared joy of cricket proved a huge hit. About 1,000 people 
participated in the December 20, 2008, program in Patuakhali, a 
southern district still recovering from the devastation of Cyclone 
Sidr in November 2007.  The Embassy's Information Support Team (IST) 
organized the initial event, while the Office of the Coordinator for 
Counterterrorism (S/CT) provided funding. Two additional Sports 
Diplomacy events are planned for the coming weeks and more are 
expected as part of ongoing Embassy programs to strengthen police 
relations with their communities in order to counter extremism. 
 
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BATTING AWAY EXTREMISM IN PATUAKHALI 
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¶2. (SBU) Bangladesh is a cricket-mad country. The exploits of the 
national team are followed closely by millions of Bangladeshis; 
wherever one travels through this poverty-ridden country one will 
see pick-up games of cricket in schoolyards and even in fallow rice 
fields. Post created Sports Diplomacy to bring local law enforcement 
agencies and the public they serve together through their shared 
love of cricket. The program can help overcome the general public's 
apprehension about working hand-in-hand with law enforcement 
officials, who often are perceived as corrupt and uninterested in 
aiding local communities. The devastation wrought by Cyclone Sidr -- 
including the destruction of homes, schools and other infrastructure 
- created an environment in which extremist ideologies could 
flourish. Patuakhali, in the heart of the Sidr-affected area, thus 
represented an ideal location for a program to improve local 
attitudes toward police. 
 
¶3. (SBU) The IST team, using funds provided by the S/CT Ambassadors' 
Fund, distributed 150 sets of cricket equipment - including jerseys, 
practice balls, bats and helmets --  to Patuakhali students. More 
than 1,000 people attended a charity cricket match of mixed teams 
including local police officers, local cricket club members, 
students and four former members of the Bangladesh national cricket 
team. Selected students received coaching from national team 
players, who are viewed as iconic national heroes.  Local police 
officers were instrumental in the success of the program, providing 
a friendly presence and sportsmanship; they also personally handed 
out the cricket equipment to the students. 
 
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NEXT UP TO BAT 
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¶4. (SBU) The Embassy IST team is using its own funding to prepare 
for two more Sports Diplomacy events.  The first program will be in 
Barisal as part of the Embassy's America Week programming in late 
January. The second will be in Chapai Nawabganj in northwest 
Bangladesh, where there is a history of extremist activity. Post has 
nearly completed production of materials for these events and local 
police are eager to participate.  We expect that each event will 
help improve community perception of local law enforcement agencies. 
 Post will brief the new Home Ministry leadership on this initiative 
as an example of community policing in action. Post appreciates 
support from S/CT Ambassadors' Fund that made this possible.