Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12477 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/06 1992/12
1993/10
1996/11
1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### 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
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### 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
ASEC AF AFIN AM AJ AG AS AEMR AMGT AORC APER AU ACBAQ AFGHANISTAN AR AE ADANA ADPM APECO AMED AX AL ADCO AA AECL AADP AMEX ACAO ANET AODE ASCH AY APEC AID AORG ASEAN ABUD AGAO AFSI AFSN AINF AGR AROC AO AFFAIRS ASIG ABLD ASUP AND ARM AQ ATFN AC ATRN ACOA AMBASSADOR AUC ASEX ARF AER AVERY AGRICULTURE AMG AFU AN AORL ALOW APCS AZ AMCHAMS ADM ACABQ AGMT ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AIT ACS
BR BK BA BRUSSELS BEXP BM BD BL BO BILAT BU BN BT BX BTIO BIDEN BG BE BP BY BBSR BC BTIU BWC BB BF BH BMGT
CO CASC CS CA CONDOLEEZZA CE CVIS CU CPAS CMGT COUNTER CH COUNTRY CJAN CG CIDA CJUS CI CY CD CDG CBSA CEUDA CR CM CLMT CAC CBW CODEL COPUOS CIC CW CBE CHR CFED CT CONS CWC CTM CDC CVR CF CIA CLINTON COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE COE CN CACS CAN CB CSW CITT CARSON CACM CDB COM CV CAPC CKGR CBC CTR CNARC CROS CARICOM CL CICTE CIS
DR DHS DA DJ DEA DPRK DEPT DOMESTIC DOE DS DE DEFENSE DO DAO DCM DEAX DK DTRA DISENGAGEMENT DOD
EINV ETRD ECON EPET ENRG EAGR EC EFIN EAID ELTN EIND ELAB EAIR ECIN EUN EG EU ETTC ET EI EWWT EFIS EMIN ER EPA ENVI ENGR ETRC EXTERNAL ECPS EN ELN EINT ETRDEINVTINTCS ES EZ ETRO ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EDU ETRN EFTA EAIG EK EUREM ECONCS ECONOMICS ENVR ELECTIONS EAP ENIV ECONOMY ESA EINN ECONOMIC EIAR EXBS ECA ECUN EINDETRD EUR EREL EUC ESENV ECONEFIN ECIP ENERG EFIM EAIDS ETRDECONWTOCS EUNCH EINVETC ENGY EINVECONSENVCSJA EUMEM ETRA EINVEFIN ETC ERD ENNP EFINECONCS ECINECONCS ERNG EXIM EURN EEPET
FR FREEDOM FTA FJ FARC FI FTAA FAC FBI FOREIGN FOI FM FAO FAS FINR FDA FOR FINANCE FMLN FO FISO
GTMO GG GM GV GOV GOI GL GH GA GY GT GAERC GR GF GCC GE GZ GTIP GLOBAL GANGS GERARD GAZA
HO HA HR HUMAN HK HU HILLARY HI HSTC HURI HYMPSK HUMOR HEBRON
IR IAEA IS IZ IN IT IO IAHRC ID IC IRAQI IWC ISLAMISTS IV ICAO INDO ITPHUM ITPGOV ITALIAN IPR ICRC INTERPOL IQ IBET IMO INR INTERNAL ICJ ICTY IRS ILO ISRAELI IEA INRB ITALY IL ITU ITRA IBRD IIP ILC IZPREL IMF IRAJ IA ITF IF INMARSAT ISRAEL ICTR IDP IGAD IEFIN IACI INRA INRO INTELSAT IRC IDA
JA JO JUS JP JOSEPH JM JAMES JOHNNIE JOHN
KS KN KTFN KTDB KTIP KIRF KPAO KDEM KCOR KE KMPI KSCA KZ KG KNUP KNNP KPAL KCRM KIPR KPKO KFLO KSEP KOMC KISL KNNPMNUC KWBG KFRD KUNR KWMN KSTC KFLU KOLY KMDR KJUS KSTH KAWC KU KWAC KNPP KERG KSEO KACT KHLS KGHG KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KDRG KTIA KVPR KV KIDE KICC KPRP KBIO KSUM KGIT KCFE KBTS KCIP KGIC KPAI KTLA KTEX KFSC KPLS KHIV KCSY KSAC KTRD KID KMRS KOM KSAF KRVC KR KMOC KNAR KHDP KSPR KBTR KOCI KJUST KNEI KAWK KGCC KMCA KBCT KREL KMFO KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KFTFN KVRP KIRC KCOM KO KLIG KAID KNSD KHUM KSEC KRAD KCMR KPWR KCHG KICA KPIN KESS KDEV KCGC KWWMN KPRV KPAK KWNM KWMNCS KRFD KVIR KSCI KDDG KIFR KHSA KCRS KRGY KCRCM KFIN KPOA KCFC KTER KREC KMIG KTBT KRCM KRIM KWMM KOMS KX KPAONZ KNUC KDEMAF
LE LY LG LH LI LTTE LAB LOG LA LT LO LU LABOR
MP MY MOPS MCAP MARR MNUC MUCN MTCRE MASS MAPP MIL MX MEDIA MO MPOS MU ML MA MERCOSUR MG MD MW MK MAS MT MI MOPPS MASC MR MTS MLS MILI MAR MTRE MEPN MTCR MEPI MQADHAFI MAPS MARAD MEETINGS MEPP MILITARY MZ MDC MC MCC MASSMNUC MRCRE MV MIK
NU NZ NATO NPT NL NI NAFTA NDP NIPP NP NG NRR NO NEW NE NH NR NA NS NSF NZUS NATIONAL NSG NC NT NAR NK NV NORAD NSSP NASA NATOPREL NPA NW NPG NSFO NGO NSC
OVIP OPIC OEXC OTRA OPDC OREP OAS OPRC OIIP OSCE OFFICIALS OMIG ODIP OFDP OECD OBSP OPCW OTR OSAC OSCI ON OCII OES OPAD OIC OFDA OHUM OVP OIE OCS
PGOV PINR PREL PHSA PTER PE PREF PHUM PK PARM PINS PM PL PO PA PBTS PBIO POL PARMS PROG PAK POLITICS PORG PTBS PNAT PUNE POLICY PDOV PCI PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PP PS PG PY PTERE PGOF PALESTINIAN PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PMAR PRELP PSEPC PREFA PGOVE PINF PNG PMIL PGOC PFOR PCUL PLN PROP POLINT PGGV PHALANAGE PARTY PGOVLO PHUS PDEM PECON PROV PAS PHUMPREL PGIV PRAM PHUH PAO PSA PHUMPGOV PF PRL PHUMBA PEL PREO PAHO POGOV POV PNR PSI PINL PU PRGOV PAIGH POLITICAL PARTIES POSTS
QA
RS RCMP RICE RU REACTION REPORT REGION RIGHTS RO RW RF RM RFE RSP RP RIGHTSPOLMIL ROBERT RELATIONS ROOD RUPREL RSO
SOCI SN SY SNAR SENV SP SZ SCUL SA SO SW SMIG SU SENVKGHG SR SYRIA SF SI SC SWE SARS STEINBERG SG SIPRS ST SL SNARIZ SSA SK SPCVIS SOFA SEVN SIPDIS SAN SYR SHUM SANC SEN SPCE SNARCS SNARN SHI SH SAARC SCRS
TU TPHY TI TX TSPL TRGY TBIO TF TERRORISM TH TIP TC TSPA TW TZ TNGD TT TL TV TS TRSY TINT TN TURKEY TBID TD TP TAGS TK TR TFIN TO THPY
UK UNSC USTR UG UNGA UZ USEU US UN UNC USUN UP UY UNESCO USPS UNHRC UNO UNHCR UNCHR USAID UNVIE UAE UNMIK USOAS UNFICYP UV UNEP UNODC UNCHS UNIDROIT UNDESCO UNCHC UNDP UNAUS UNCND UNCSD UNICEF UNPUOS UNDC USNC UE
VT VZ VE VTEG VTPREL VM VI VTIZ VAT VC VN
WS WTO WTRO WTRQ WI WZ WHO WFP WWARD WHA WB WBG WIPO WITH WMO WEU WMD WHTI WA
XA XF XM XL XW XV XR XB XU XH XG XE XK XX XD XI XT XS XC XY XZ XTAG XQ
YE YM YI YMCS
ZI ZO ZU ZEALAND ZK ZR ZF ZP ZN ZA ZB ZOELLICK ZL ZANU ZJ

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 09DHAKA741, AMBASSADOR URGES PRIME MINISTER,S ADVISER TO

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. #09DHAKA741.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
09DHAKA741 | 2009-07-29 09:00 | 2010-12-21 21:30 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Dhaka

`

    VZCZCXRO9023
    PP RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPW
    DE RUEHKA #0741/01 2100900
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    P 290900Z JUL 09
    FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9231
    INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
    RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON PRIORITY 2900
    RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
    RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
    RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
    RHHJJPI/PACOM IDHS HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
    RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 000741

    SIPDIS

    DEPT FOR SCA/INSB AND EEB/ESC
    COMMERCE FOR TRADE ADVOCACY CENTER BRIAN WILLIAMS
    COMMERCE ALSO FOR ITA DIANA FONOVICH
    TREASURY FOR YEE WONG

    EO 12958 DECL: 07/26/2019
    TAGS ENRG, PREL, PGOV, ECON, PINR, EINV, BG
    SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR URGES PRIME MINISTER,S ADVISER TO
    ACCELERATE ENERGY SECTOR DEVELOPMENT
    REF: A. 08DHAKA1041  B. 08DHAKA517

    Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
    (U) This is an action request, please see para 8 below.

    Summary
    -------

    ¶1. (C) The Ambassador recently urged the Prime Minister,s Energy Adviser, Tawfiq Elahi Chowdhury, to resolve several pressing issues, including awarding offshore blocks for natural gas exploration and authorizing coal mining. The Adviser indicated that Conoco Phillips would likely be awarded two of the uncontested blocks and that Chevron would likely soon receive permission to go ahead with the first of three compressors necessary to improve flow in Bangladesh,s main gas pipeline. With respect to coal, Chowdhury requested technical assistance for evaluating the technical and environmental problems associated with different types of mining. The Ambassador and the Energy Advisor agreed that regional cooperation among the South Asian countries would benefit all concerned.

    Blocking it off for gas exploration
    -----------------------------------

    ¶2. (C) The Adviser told the Ambassador during a meeting on July 23 that Conoco Phillips would likely be awarded the two uncontested offshore blocks for natural gas exploration. (Note: Later that day, the Cabinet referred the matter to the Foreign Ministry for further scrutiny. At issue is the ongoing dispute between Bangladesh, India and Burma over the demarcation of territorial waters in the Bay of Bengal. Conoco Phillips,s initial bid for exploration in eight blocks was approved, but the award has been stalled for almost a year. The company wants to eventually receive all the offshore blocks for which it was the winning bidder but is willing to start out in the blocks where there was no territorial dispute. End note.)

    Increasing the flow
    -------------------

    3.(SBU) The Ambassador noted that one way for the GOB to begin to address Bangladesh,s energy shortage would be to add compressors to the country,s main gas pipeline; compressors would greatly increase the flow of gas from Chevron,s Bibiyana gas field. Chowdhury replied that the GOB was on the verge of giving Chevron permission to go ahead with one of the three compressors necessary. (Note: Tenders are being invited for the other two compressors, though Chevron states that it is not interested in bidding on the remaining two compresssors. End note.) Chevron would fund the purchase itself and then be reimbursed by Petrobangla (the owner of the pipeline) out of profits from the increased flow of gas. Chowdhury warned, however, that it would take time for the GOB to obtain the other two compressors. Prices had risen rapidly, and the GOB would have to obtain additional assistance from the Asian Development Bank. Moreover, compressors of this magnitude were built to order and would take some time to manufacture after the financing was arranged.

    Coal as a potential solution
    ----------------------------

    ¶4. (C) The Ambassador noted that Bangladesh,s coal reserves were vast and of the highest quality; coal appeared to provide a potential way to at least partly resolve the country,s energy crisis. Chowdhury replied that because of global concerns about green house gas emissions and air pollution, multilateral financial institutions had become reluctant to finance coal mining projects. He pointed out however, that the international community should focus on clean coal technology. He asked for technical assistance from the U.S. to determine what type of mining would work best in Bangladesh and how the environmental impact could be mitigated; he added that the GOB would also stress the need
    DHAKA 00000741 002 OF 002
    to rehabilitate the mined areas. The Ambassador promised that the USG would look for ways to help the GOB and added that open pit mining seemed the best way forward, if the rehabilitation of lands could be done properly.

    ¶5. (C) The Adviser remarked that the proposed coal mine in Phulbari was politically sensitive, in light of the impoverished,historically oppressed tribal community residing on the land. (Comment: Just as important, the Awami League vigorously opposed the project when it was in opposition. End comment.) He said the government would seek to ensure the rights of the local community and build support for the project through the parliamentary process. (Note: Asia Energy, the company behind the Phulbari project, has sixty percent U.S. investment. Asia Energy officials told the Ambassador on July 29 they were cautiously optimistic that the project would win government approval in the coming months. End note.)

    Regional cooperation afoot?
    ---------------------------

    ¶6. (C) The Ambassador and the Adviser also discussed USAID,s South Asian Regional Initiative for Energy (SARI/E) (which promotes energy security in the region through cross border energy trade, energy markets and access to clean energy). The Ambassador welcomed continued cooperation such as the visit of a high level GOB delegation to India in mid July. He noted that the USG had always believed that the countries of South Asia should address their energy problems together and that opponents of transit and regional cooperation in Bangladesh had no strong arguments. Integration onto a regional energy grid would be more politically palatable than simply trying to resolve differences bilaterally, he pointed out. The Adviser concurred: The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)asserted that the Awami League was selling out the country,s sovereignty whenever the government undertook any projects bilaterally with India.

    Comment
    -------

    ¶7. (C) Despite its enormous potential, Bangladesh still faces daunting challenges as it attempts to resolve its energy crisis. The GOB has focused on the energy sector as a core component of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,s agenda. The appointment of Chowdhury, a seasoned bureaucrat with the ear of the Prime Minister, underscores the emphasis the GOB has placed on the energy issue. In the absence of a Minister for Energy, Chowdhury is the lead official on energy matters.  Harnessing Bangladesh,s natural gas reserves and vast quantities of coal in the Phulbari region, could improve the lives of 150 million Bangladeshis. U.S. energy sector cooperation also offers the prospect of commercial benefit.

    Action Request
    --------------

    ¶8. (U) Embassy Dhaka requests Washington agencies, help in responding to the GOB,s request for technical assistance in determining what type of coal mining would be appropriate and also in mitigating the environmental impact of open pit and other forms of mining. On that score, Chowdhury indicated that U.S. companies had provided invaluable advice in the past; he was looking to see whether the USG could provide names of companies/individual consultants who could provide objective, reliable advice in an area where the GOB lacked expertise. MORIARTY

`