Cablegate: Caretaker Government Advisors Appointed

VZCZCXRO6160
PP RUEHCI
DE RUEHKA #6521/01 3051016
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 011016Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2458
INFO RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 8782
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 9447
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1346
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 7633
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 006521

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BG
SUBJECT: CARETAKER GOVERNMENT ADVISORS APPOINTED

REF: DHAKA 06493

1. (SBU) Summary. The opposition Awami League fared well with
its nominees for caretaker advisers, though portfolios have
yet to be assigned. Sporadic political violence persists,
mostly outside of Dhaka. Under apparent pressure from the
former ruling party, the caretaker government reversed two
key personnel actions. The controversial chief election
commissioner says he has no plan to resign. Amid opposition
calls for more changes in police and civil administration
personnel, the government reshuffled 16 senior police
officials. End Summary.

Advisors
--------
2. (SBU) On October 31, ten advisors, or ministers, to the
caretaker government were sworn in:

A) Justice Fazlul Haque: No specific party affiliation, may
receive charge of the Law Ministry.

B) Dr. Akbar Ali Khan: A former Cabinet Secretary who served
both Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party
governments, as well as the World Bank. Nominated by the
Bangladesh Nationalist Party, may receive charge of the
Finance Ministry.

C) C.M. Shafi Sami: A former Foreign Secretary, may receive
charge of the Foreign Ministry. Nominated by the Awami
League.

D) LTG (R) Hasan Moshud Chowdhury: Declined offer to extend,
retired as Army Chief in 2005. Held in high professional
regard. Nominated by Jamaat Islami.

E) M. Azizul Haque: A former Inspector General of Police
during the 1996 caretaker government who stayed in that
position for 17 months under the new Awami League government
before being prematurely retired.

F) Dhiraj Kumar Nath: A former Secretary and the only Hindu
appointee. Nominated by the Awami League.

G) Sultana Kamal: A well-known human rights advocate and
president of the human rights organization Ain-o-Shalish
Kendra. She is the only prominent political activist in the
group, a former member of the Communist Party of Bangladesh,
and member of Kamal Hossain's Gono Forum. Nominated by the
Awami League.

H) Yasmin Murshed: President of Scholastica, a prominent
private school in Dhaka. Nominated by the Bangladesh
Nationalist Party.

I) Mahbubul Alam: Editor of the English-language daily
newspaper "The Independent." No known party affiliation, but
his newspaper is owned by a business conglomerate, BEXIMCO,
which has close Awami League ties. Served as Ambassador to
Bhutan during the Ershad regime. Comes from the same district
as President Ahmed, believed to have been Ahmed's personal
choice.

J) Professor (Emeritus) Sufia Rahman: Widow of Ishtiaq Ahmed,
a former caretaker advisor and Attorney General during Sheikh
Mujib's government. May receive charge of the Health
Ministry.

3. (SBU) Awami League leaders greeted the appointments with
caution, noting they are learned and respected people who
will be judged by their actions. While the group appears
relatively balanced, much will depend on portfolio
assignments. The opposition has identified as critical the
home affairs and establishment ministries, the latter because
it oversees the assignments of government employees who
double as poll workers. LTG Chowdhury and Azizul Haq may be
the likeliest candidates for the Home Ministry portfolio;
Awami League reaction to either could be negative.

Violence Percolates
-------------------
4. (SBU) On October 31, five persons were killed and more
than 80 were injured in political clashes in areas outside of
Dhaka, according to press reports. Both the Awami League and
the Bangladesh Nationalist Party have rallies scheduled today
for Dhaka. Clashes are possible, but there is a huge law
enforcement presence throughout the downtown areas.

Caretaker Government Reversals

DHAKA 00006521 002 OF 002

------------------------------
5. (SBU) Under reported pressure from the former ruling
party, the caretaker government has reversed two key
personnel actions: Rafiquul Islam was moved out as Secretary
to the President, and Aktar Hussain was reinstated as Power
Division Secretary. As a result, perceptions of the
caretaker government's neutrality and authority will suffer.

Chief Election Commissioner
--------------------------
6. (SBU) Facing renewed opposition demands that he quit
immediately, Chief Election Commissioner Aziz told
journalists yesterday he is focused on preparing for
elections and has no plan to resign.

Arrests
-------
7. (SBU) Local media report that police have arrested as many
as 500 persons since the weekend as part of a new
"anti-crime" drive. The Awami League charges more than 100
of its activists were picked up. There are also reported BNP
arrests. It is unclear if the arrests are politically driven
or biased, or are part of a bigger law enforcement crackdown
in Dhaka.

More Personnel Changes
----------------------
8. (SBU) Against the backdrop of opposition demands for more
changes, the caretaker government reshuffled 16 senior police
officials, including the heads of the Dhaka police and the
Rapid Action Battalion. The new director general of the
controversial Rapid Action Battalion, Khoda Bakhs, is well
and favorably known to the Embassy.
BUTENIS

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