VZCZCXRO1667
PP RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPW
DE RUEHKA #0065/01 0191042
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 191042Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9913
INFO RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKDIA/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUENAAA/SECNAV WASHDC PRIORITY
RHHMUNS/COMSOCPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHHMHAA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI PRIORITY
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 2224
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 2981

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 000065 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/INSB, AND PM 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2030 
TAGS: MASS MCAP PINS PREL KPKO BG
SUBJECT: EMBASSY DHAKA SUPPORT FOR EDA LANDING SHIP, TANK 
(LST) TRANSFER TO BANGLADESH 
 
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty.  Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Bangladesh's senior navy and civilian leadership, 
including the Prime Minister's national security advisor, 
have repeatedly expressed interest in acquiring Excess 
Defense Articles (EDA) ships from the United States to help 
upgrade and modernize Bangladesh's Navy.  Approving the 
transfer of an EDA Landing Ship, Tank (LST) to Bangladesh 
would improve its ability to support natural disaster relief 
operations and United Nations Peace Keeping Operations 
(UNPKO).  Embassy Dhaka strongly supports the transfer of an 
EDA LST to Bangladesh's Navy (BN).  End Summary. 
 
Bangladesh Government Expresses Interest 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (S/NF) Major General (ret) Tarique Siddique, the Prime 
Minister's Security Advisor, has repeatedly expressed 
Bangladesh's eagerness to acquire EDA ships from the U.S. to 
country team members and visiting U.S. officials, including 
the Office of the Secretary of Defense South Asian Affairs 
Director.  Siddique told Polcouns, on January 11, that 
although the cost for Bangladesh to refit an LST could be 
substantial, the Prime Minister supported the acquisition. 
Siddique noted that Bangladesh was currently in the process 
of purchasing two EDA offshore patrol craft from the UK to 
meet the PM's commitment to the Navy Chief's call for fleet 
modernization.  The BN Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) 
specifically asked the DATT for EDA frigates, offshore patrol 
craft, and amphibious craft, such as an LST.  The Bangladesh 
Coast Guard's (BCG) Director General (DG) has repeatedly 
asked the DATT for EDA cutters, amphibious craft of any type, 
and patrol craft.  (Comment: Although the BCG functions under 
the Ministry of Home, the BCG's leadership is comprised 
entirely of Bangladesh Navy officers on deputation.  The BCG 
DG completely understands that adding an amphibious craft to 
the Bangladesh Navy not only would increase the navy's 
capabilities, but also the BCG's.  End comment.) 
 
GOB Seeks to Improve Fleet 
-------------------------- 
 
¶3. (C) Most ships in the BN are technologically obsolete and 
increasingly difficult to maintain.  BN officers are well 
trained; many have received professional military education 
and/or have operational experience with friendly nations' 
navies.  The BN's leadership understands navy equipment 
limitations and has sought to maximize existing equipment's 
performance.  Maritime territorial disputes with Burma over 
areas believed to include significant natural gas fields have 
further convinced the navy's leadership it needs to expand 
and improve Bangladesh's fleet.  (Comment: A November 2008 
naval standoff with Burma over an exploratory drilling rig 
galvanized the government's resolve to improve the navy's 
capabilities.  During its first year, the Awami League-led 
government authorized the purchase of fixed-wing maritime 
patrol aircraft, ship-borne capable surveillance and utility 
helicopters, and two large offshore patrol craft.  End 
comment.) 
 
LST: Improved Support for Disaster Relief and UNPKO 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶4.  (C/NF) The BN regularly assists with disaster relief 
operations in natural hazard-prone Bangladesh.  About 30 
percent of Bangladesh routinely suffers annual flooding while 
a major cyclone or flooding of 50 to 70 percent of the 
country occurs on average every three years.  An LST would 
significantly improve the BN's ability to respond during 
relief operations by providing large capacity for delivery 
relief supplies and/or transporting relief forces and rescued 
 
DHAKA 00000065  002 OF 002 
 
 
victims.  The BN's leadership is keen to increase the number 
of BN personnel deployed on UNPKO.  Participation in such 
missions brings both career enhancement and personal economic 
reward to participants while expanding the BN pool of 
experienced officers and sailors.  The BN's Assistant Chief 
of Staff for Operations, Rear Admiral Habib, told the DATT 
that an LST would be ideal for enabling the BN to fulfill 
United Nations' requests for ships to support UNPKOs. 
(Comment: Bangladesh is the second largest contributor of 
peacekeeping personnel to UNPKOs.  The Newport Class LST is 
more modern and capable than any amphibious platform in the 
current BN inventory.  Providing Bangladesh with an LST would 
improve the aggregate age of their main surface combatant 
fleet and would directly improve their ability to help 
themselves during recovery from natural disasters, as well as 
to support multiple UN missions.  End comment.) 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶4.  (C) Increasing Bangladesh's naval capabilities and USN-BN 
interoperability for joint operations is a key U.S. goal. 
Improving Bangladesh's maritime domain awareness and 
interoperability will enhance U.S. ability to secure freedom 
of navigation in the strategic sea lines of communication 
within the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal. 
 
MORIARTY