VZCZCXRO3912
PP RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPW
DE RUEHKA #0130/01 0470147
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 160147Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0014
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 2238
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHHMUNS/COMSOCPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKDIA/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 000130 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/INSB, SCA/PPD, R, OES 
DEPT PLS PASS TO PEACE CORPS AND USAID 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2030 
TAGS: PREL OVIP SOCI SCUL EAID EAGR BG
SUBJECT: BANGLADESH PM ASKS U/S MCHALE FOR MORE 
PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE DIALOGUE, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4(b) and (d) 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
¶1. (C) Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told visiting Under 
Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs 
Judith McHale that she welcomed increased U.S. Government 
educational programs in Bangladesh, including the return of 
the Peace Corps.  The Prime Minister also requested U.S. 
support for her government's efforts to provide broader 
educational opportunities to students in madrassas.  Hasina 
praised President Obama's role in the Copenhagen Summit and 
expressed her desire to work with India and China for a 
lasting agreement on climate change.  She also repeated her 
invitation to President Obama and Secretary Clinton to visit 
Bangladesh. 
 
BRING BACK THE PEACE CORPS, INCREASE EXCHANGES 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶2. (C) The Prime Minister told Under Secretary McHale and the 
Ambassador during a February 7 meeting that she supported 
increased exchange programs between the United States and 
Bangladesh.  Under Secretary McHale emphasized the importance 
of people-to-people dialogue and said she wanted to encourage 
more Bangladeshi students to study in the U.S.  The Prime 
Minister turned the conversation to the proposed return of 
the Peace Corps to Bangladesh.  The PM spoke highly of the 
program's impact during her 1996-2001 administration and 
offered support for reinstating the program. (NOTE: The Peace 
Corps left Bangladesh in 2005 due to since-resolved security 
concerns; the agency is mulling a return to Bangladesh. END 
NOTE.) 
 
GOB LOOKS OUTWARD, DESPITE CRITICISM 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶3. (C) Recalling Bangladesh's decision to ascribe to the 
Copenhagen Accord, the Prime Minister warmly praised 
President Obama's role during the Summit.  She noted the 
President asked her to emphasize the importance of a lasting 
agreement with the governments of India and China, which she 
said she began during her trip to India last month. The PM 
expressed a desire to visit China soon and to continue the 
dialogue, saying, "It is my duty for my country and other 
countries, on humanitarian grounds."  Under Secretary McHale 
thanked the Prime Minister for her leadership on this issue. 
 
INVITATION TO THE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY TO VISIT BANGLADESH 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
¶4. (C) The Prime Minister extended warm invitations to 
President Obama and Secretary Clinton to visit Bangladesh. 
She mentioned President Obama's planned visit to Indonesia in 
March and urged that he add Bangladesh to his trip, saying, 
"He should not forget Bangladesh." 
 
PURSUING BANGLADESH INTERESTS WITH INDIA 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) The Prime Minister laughingly acknowledged the 
opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party's (BNP) criticism 
that she "sold out" the country to India during her recent 
summit with Indian PM Manmohan Singh, stating, "I am waiting 
for them to come to Parliament -- then we will talk."  The 
Prime Minister said she undertook her trip to the neighboring 
giant with the goal of furthering economic development in 
Bangladesh.  Under Secretary McHale encouraged the Prime 
Minister to seek opportunities for regional cooperation. 
Hasina agreed and pointed to a regional business summit she 
hosted during her prior administration and her role in 
diffusing tensions between India and Pakistan after India's 
nuclear test in 1998. 
 
DEVELOPING BANGLADESH'S FUTURE 
------------------------------ 
 
¶6. (C) The Prime Minister briefly touched on a number of 
development needs -- improved infrastructure, a social safety 
net, and healthcare -- before focusing on food security. 
Under Secretary McHale stated that this was an area in which 
the U.S. wanted to work with Bangladesh.  The Prime Minister 
 
DHAKA 00000130  002 OF 002 
 
 
expressed hope for global cooperation during the current food 
crisis, explaining what she perceived as a worldwide shift in 
mindset when considering how to help least-developed 
countries combat food insecurity by increasing productivity. 
She advocated for thoughtful and effective food aid, saying, 
"We cannot just eat the money -- we need food." 
 
EDUCATION KEY TO BANGLADESH'S DEVELOPMENT 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (C) The Prime Minister raised the GOB's education policy, 
which seeks to enforce greater uniformity of standards among 
educational institutions, especially madrassas.  She 
maintained that madrassa students needed better education -- 
especially in science, technology, vocational fields, and 
English language -- to give them economic opportunities and a 
broader outlook, the lack of which left them vulnerable to 
extremist ideology. She expressed a wish for U.S. support in 
providing such expanded training.  Under Secretary McHale 
said she viewed broadening educational opportunities, 
including for women, as crucial to fostering progress and 
building a more stable society.  The Prime Minister also said 
she believed education is the key to lasting change in 
Bangladesh's often-corrosive political culture.  She welcomed 
news of Under Secretary McHale's planned visit to Dhaka 
University later that day. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶8. (C) The PM highlighted U.S. and Bangladesh mutual 
interests during the meeting with U/S McHale, especially 
climate change, food security, and education.  The Prime 
Minister's palpable enthusiasm for a return by the Peace 
Corps should move the process forward within the GOB.  The 
Prime Minister is an ardent admirer of both President Obama 
and Secretary Clinton; a visit to Bangladesh would be an 
excellent opportunity to cement the progress we have made in 
the bilateral relationship and to emphasize messages of 
engagement with the Muslim world, strengthening democratic 
institutions, and encouraging Bangladesh to be a more 
responsible regional and international partner. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Under Secretary HcHale cleared this message. 
MORIARTY