Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 08DHAKA645, DESPITE SHORT TENURES, CARETAKER GOVERNMENT

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08DHAKA645.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08DHAKA645 2008-06-16 10:30 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Dhaka
VZCZCXRO0174
OO RUEHCI
DE RUEHKA #0645/01 1681030
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 161030Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6922
INFO RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 8500
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 2229
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 9736
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0703
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA PRIORITY 1347
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 000645 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
S/CT FOR SETH BAILEY 
IO FOR OIC SPECIAL ENVOY CUMBER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV EAIR EIND ETRD SCUL BG
SUBJECT: DESPITE SHORT TENURES, CARETAKER GOVERNMENT 
ADVISERS HAVE AMBITIOUS AGENDAS 
 
------ 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
1. (SBU) Two top officials of the Caretaker Government in 
separate meetings with the Ambassador on June 10 outlined 
ambitious agendas to improve the quality of education, 
promote industry and fix Bangladesh's moribund national air 
carrier. Although they emphatically stated they would be gone 
from government after Parliamentary elections in December, 
Commerce and Education Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman and 
Special Assistant for Civil Aviation and Tourism Mahbub Jamil 
hardly sounded like lame ducks. They were pushing 
market-friendly development plans that represented a break 
from past government policies marred by red tape and 
corruption. The Ambassador pledged to do all he could to help. 
 
--------------------------------- 
EDUCATION: FROM ACCESS TO QUALITY 
--------------------------------- 
 
2. (SBU) Commerce and Education Adviser Hossain Zillur 
Rahman, who is responsible for schools above the primary 
level, told the Ambassador he was focusing on improving the 
quality of education because previous governments had made 
substantial progress in increasing access. Hossain said 
improving science and technology education were a priority; 
one pilot program, for example, focused on introducing 
science studies to madrassahs, which focus on religious 
studies. He said Bangladeshi students found technical 
training unattractive because courses were out of date and 
were not linked to market needs. To strengthen that link he 
was pursuing public-private partnerships with industries such 
as ship-building. 
 
3. (SBU) Hossain said he had initiated transparent hiring and 
recruitment processes for faculty as part of the greater 
focus on education quality. He said a "new framework" for 
private universities could be in place soon that would 
strengthen academic supervision while discouraging investors 
from establishing schools that approached education solely as 
a money-making endeavor. He also said the government was 
opening the Islamic University of Technology to women 
students from across the Muslim world. 
 
-------------------------------------- 
COMMERCE: FROM REGULATION TO PROMOTION 
-------------------------------------- 
 
4. (SBU) The government was switching its focus from 
regulating business to promoting Bangladeshi business, 
including companies already exporting or with the potential 
to develop markets abroad, Hossain continued. He listed 
plastics, pharmaceuticals, leather and bicycles as 
established industries worthy of government promotion. Cut 
diamonds, shoes and home textiles such as absorbent towels 
were less developed industries that he predicted could emerge 
as strong exporters. The success of these industries would 
largely depend on whether good public policies could be 
successfully integrated into what has been an 
initiative-driven business environment, he added. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
CIVIL AVIATION: CUTTING OUT THE DROSS AND GRAFT 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
5. (SBU)  Special Assistant for Civil Aviation and Tourism 
Mahbub Jamil told the Ambassador he would go to the U.S. in 
late June to sign a Definitive Agreement on the sale of 
Boeing 737-800 aircraft to Biman Bangladesh Airlines -- a 
sale that could reach a total value of $320 million. Jamil, 
who also is Biman chairman, explained several measures he had 
taken to ensure that deal and another for the purchase of 
eight widebody aircraft directly from Boeing -- four 
777-300ER and four 787-8 planes -- were free of graft. He 
gleefully recounted how an old acquaintance had approached 
him to broker a 777 deal, offering an older version of the 
aircraft at a price $18 million per plane higher than the bid 
from Boeing. That offer from a rent-seeking middleman, he 
said, was illustrative of how previous purchases of Biman 
aircraft had been conducted. 
 
6. (SBU) Jamil said Biman would divest itself of non-core 
businesses and would continue to trim its bloated staff. When 
 
DHAKA 00000645  002 OF 002 
 
 
Bangladesh won its independence from Pakistan in 1971, the 
4,700 people working for Pakistan International Airlines in 
what had been East Pakistan were absorbed by the newly 
established national carrier, Biman. Jamil said that he 
already had trimmed Biman's bloated workforce by 1,800 people 
and would cut another 1,000 in the next two months, which 
would create a workforce in line with industry norms. 
Non-core businesses at Biman would be divested, Jamil said, 
including a 45-acre money-losing poultry farm located 10 
kilometers from Dhaka's international airport. Another move 
to make Biman commercially competitive would be participating 
in one of the international code-sharing alliances, such as 
the Star Alliance anchored by United Airlines, he said. 
 
----------------------------------------- 
TOURISM: WHERE ARE THE FOREIGN INVESTORS? 
----------------------------------------- 
 
7. (SBU) Bangladesh needed foreign money to develop its 
tourism industry, but the country's image as a place of 
natural disasters and political unrest deterred many an 
investor, Jamil said. He expressed hope that expatriate 
Bangladeshis would be among those who invest in the country, 
noting that remitting profits abroad was hassle-free and 
fast. Jamil said the National Tourist Board would sell its 
hotels and restaurants in a bid to improve the industry. 
(Note: Although government-owned hotels often are among the 
best in Bangladesh's second-tier cities, their restaurants 
can be uninspired and the rooms can be heavily populated with 
mosquitoes in the winter and an assortment of bugs, including 
flying cockroaches the size of dollar coins, in the summer. 
End note.) 
 
----------------------------------------- 
COMMENT: U.S. SUPPORTS ADVISERS ANTI-GRAFT, PRO-MARKET MOVES 
 
----------------------------------------- 
 
8. (SBU) Post broadly supports the development initiatives 
launched by the two advisers, including their efforts to 
improve the quality of education, reduce graft and promote 
sustainable economic growth. Ambassador Moriarty has 
consistently stated publicly, most recently to Bangladeshi 
journalists on June 14, that the crackdown on graft must 
continue beyond the brief tenure of the Caretaker Government. 
In addition to ongoing educational initiatives such as USAID 
support for the local Sesame Street program, Post has applied 
for an S/CT Ambassadors' Fund grant to help madrassahs adjust 
curricula to better prepare students for Bangladesh's labor 
market. Post also looks forward to working with S/CT's 
Strategic Empowerment Initiative for Public-Private 
Partnerships to leverage private capital to expand economic 
development and infrastructure, and to improve math, science 
and English-language education. 
 
Moriarty