VZCZCXRO5738
OO RUEHBC RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHPW
RUEHROV
DE RUEHKA #0210/01 0591015
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 281015Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8375
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1993
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 2777
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHHJJPI/PACOM IDHS HONOLULU HI
RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 000210 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/PB, SCA/FO, CA/OCS, AND DS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2019 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR PINS MARR CASC ASEC KDEM BG
SUBJECT: BANGLADESH'S CIVILIAN AND MILITARY LEADERSHIP 
STRESS UNITY AS DEMANDS FOR JUSTICE AGAINST MUTINEERS MOUNT 
 
REF: A. DHAKA 207 
     ¶B. DHAKA 204 
     ¶C. DHAKA 161 
 
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty.  Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
SUMMARY 
======== 
 
¶1. (C)  Bangladesh's civilian and military leadership are 
working together to defuse tension within the Bangladesh Army 
following the February 25 - 26 Bangladesh Rifles Mutiny. 
During a late-night meeting February 27, Prime Minister 
Sheikh Hasina and Army Chief General Moeen agreed to 
establish a special tribunal composed of civilian and 
military officials to judge those responsible for the 
atrocities.  Disgruntled members of the army appear to be 
taking a wait and see approach as the government agrees to 
their demands.  As the media reports the death toll rose to 
81 with the discovery of additional mass graves February 28, 
plans were underway to bury the dead with full state honors 
and provide support to their family members.  Most media 
outlets called for national unity and supported the 
Government's decision to hold those responsible for the 
murders accountable for their actions.  Senior GOB officials 
have expressed appreciation for strong and consistent USG 
support during the crisis. 
 
Civilian and Military Leadership Working To Defuse Tension 
============================================= ============= 
 
¶2. (C)  Tension has risen within the army as the extent of 
the atrocities committed during the February 25 - 26 
Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) Mutiny became clear (ref a).  Against 
this backdrop, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Army Chief 
General Moeen Uddin Ahmed worked late into the night February 
27 to respond to army concerns.  During a two-hour meeting at 
the Prime Minister's residence, Moeen and senior uniformed 
colleagues briefed Hasina on complaints from within the 
officer corps regarding the GOB's response to the crisis. 
Sources privy to the discussions tell us that Hasina readily 
accepted Moeen's proposals that included both immediate steps 
to be taken by the GOB as well as a longer term plan for 
reconstituting the BDR.  (Note: Hasina and Moeen were meeting 
again the afternoon of February 28, but we have yet to 
receive a readout of their discussion.) 
 
Plans to Punish the Guilty... 
============================= 
 
¶3. (C)  Following the February 27 meeting, Moeen and 
Principal Staff Officer Lieutenant General Mubeen separately 
spoke with the press to emphasize unity between the civilian 
and military leadership.  Mubeen announced the GOB's decision 
to establish a special tribunal to judge those accused of 
crimes.  On February 28, State Minister for Liberation War 
Affairs Capt (ret'd) Tajul Islam told us he had assured a 
gathering of several hundred retired army officers that there 
would be speedy justice for those accused.  This was echoed 
by the Prime Minister's Security Adviser, Major General 
(ret'd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, who said that the GOB had 
made progress in identifying those who had actively 
participated in the killings. 
 
and Honor the Dead 
================== 
 
¶4.  (C)  During the day February 27, the GOB also announced a 
series of measures designed to honor those killed during the 
mutiny.   The Army announced that it would provide surviving 
families with initial grants of $6,000 from the Army Welfare 
Fund.  The GOB announced three days of mourning for those 
killed and made preparations to bury the victims with full 
state honors.  Funerals scheduled for midday February 28 were 
delayed after the discovery of additional mass graves on the 
BDR HQ compound.  State Minister Islam stated there had been 
discussion of erecting a memorial to the dead on the grounds 
of the BDR HQ at Pilkhana. 
 
Calls for National Unity to Overcome Crisis 
=========================================== 
 
¶5. (C)  Most media reports the morning of February 28 
 
DHAKA 00000210  002 OF 002 
 
 
continued to praise the GOB for its handling of the crisis 
and call for national unity and mourning for the victims. 
The media welcomed the announcement of special tribunals and 
expressed full support for the principle that the guilty must 
be held accountable.  Some criticized Bangladesh Nationalist 
Party Chairperson Khaleda Zia's February 27th criticism of 
the government which stood in contrast to her conciliatory 
message the previous day. 
 
GOB Appreciation for USG Support 
================================ 
 
¶6. (C)  State Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Hasan Mahmud 
and other GOB officials called to express their appreciation 
for the strong USG support during the crisis.   They gave 
thanks for the Ambassador's phone call to the Prime Minister 
February 26 and for an Embassy statement February 27 
expressing support for the government.  They likewise 
expressed appreciation for support from the United Kingdom 
and other international partners. 
 
Comment 
======= 
 
¶7.  (C)  The increase in tension within the security forces 
throughout the day February 27 was palpable, as the body 
count rose and electronic and print media reports of 
atrocities spread throughout the country, including eye 
witness and survivor accounts.  This gave rise to 
considerable speculation about tension between the Army and 
civilian leadership, as well as within the army.  As she has 
throughout the crisis, the Prime Minister worked with the 
Army leadership to respond to concerns from within the ranks. 
 While emotions remain high, the government's timely actions 
have helped to contain the situation...for now.  That said, 
anger, particularly on the part of junior and mid-level army 
officers, remains intense.  The political, military, and 
civil society elites understand the stakes and the need for 
concerted action to bring the crisis to a conclusion. 
MORIARTY