Cablegate: Blue Lantern Level 3: Dhaka Response To

VZCZCXYZ0002
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKA #0878/01 2511040
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 081040Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY DHAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9425
INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUCNFB/FBI WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUETIAA/DIRNSA

UNCLAS DHAKA 000878

SIPDIS

PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC BG
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: DHAKA RESPONSE TO
POST-SHIPMENT END-USE CHECK ON LICENSE 050127443

REF: SECSTATE 70691

Below provides answers to each of ref questions on the Blue
Lantern post-shipment end-use check for License 050127443.

Questions directed to Bangladesh Police Inspector General
(IGP):

--Did you received the pistols (serial numbers MRF5674 and
MRH3635) and threaded barrel listed below? Yes.

--Did you receive any other defense articles in this
transaction? No.

--Do you intend to mate the threaded barrel with a sound
suppresser? No.

--For what does the Inspector General use a sound suppresser?
Not applicable. The IGP,s Procurement Section ordered two
Smith and Wesson 9mm pistols for field testing. The sound
suppresser was shipped separately. Neither the suppresser
nor the pistols were meant for or have been used by the IGP
for personal use.

--Were you informed in writing by the U.S. vendor that the
threaded barrel must remain in the Inspector General's
custody and cannot be transferred to the Bangladesh Rapid
Action Battalion (RAB) Organization? Yes.

Will the Bangladesh Rapid Action Battalion Organization ever
have custody of the threaded barrel? No. The IGP's
Procurement Section received and signed DSP-83 Non Transfer
and Use Certificate. IGP authorities assured EmbOff they
understood USG non-transferrance rules, in particular the
restrictions on the RAB.

--Are you familiar with the regulations governing the import
of U.S.-origin defense articles, including restrictions on
re-transfer or re-export? Yes, the IGP's Procurement Section
received and signed DSP-83 Non Transfer and Use Certificate.

Answers to questions related to New Victor Limited (NVL):

--When was your company established and who are its
principals? NVL was established on April 6, 1977 by retired
Brigadier General Abdur Rouf who died in 1998. Gen. Rouf,s
son, Touhid Rouf, has been running the company since 1988 and
holds the position of Managing Director. The General
Manager, Dabiruddin Ahmed, has been working for the company
for 26 years.

--What products and services does your company provide? Who
are your regular customers and where do they reside? NVL is
engaged in trading and supply of defense products to include
arms and ammunitions, military trucks, and radar equipment.
Its main customers are the Bangladesh Government through the
Directorate General of Defense Purchase (DGDP) and the
Bangladesh Police. They have supplied defense products to
National Security Intelligence (NSI) and Bangladesh Rifles
(BDR). Its customers are based in Dhaka.

--What was your role in this transaction? Did you ever have
possession of the defense articles listed below? NVL acts as
a local agent of Smith and Wesson Holding Corporation, USA.
This transaction was a required trial procurement prior to an
upcoming larger bulk procurement of pistols by the Bangladesh
Police. The Bangladesh Police require that participating
suppliers submit sample products on a trial basis prior to
participating in larger tender. NVL only processed the
documents and acted as an intermediary between the Bangladesh
Police and Smith and Wesson Holding. Bangladesh Police
cleared the consignment from the airport; NVL was not
present. Bangladesh Police remain in possession of the
defense articles.

--Are you familiar with the regulations governing the import
of U.S.-origin defense articles, including restrictions on
re-transfer or re-export? NVL is familiar with the
regulations governing the import of U.S.-origin defense
articles, including restrictions on re-transfer or re-export.
NVL helps the beneficiaries (in this case the Bangladesh
Police) to fill out the "End User Certificate" form and then
send it back to the U.S. supplier.

Answers to questions on Bangladesh Export/Import Authorities:

--Is New Victor Limited properly authorized to import defense
articles in Bangladesh? No. NVL is not authorized to import
defense articles in Bangladesh nor is any other private
company in Bangladesh authorized to import defense articles.
Only government agencies or the government beneficiary can
import defense articles. In this case, the Bangladesh
Ministry of Home Affairs gave permission to Bangladesh Police
to import the defense articles. NVL only processed the
documents and acted as an intermediary between the Bangladesh
Police and Smith and Wesson Holding.

--Do you have any information on New Victor Limited that
would question their reliability as a recipient of U.S.
defense articles? We have no derogatory information on NVL.
MORIARTY

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