The Embassy believes that Tarique is responsible for severe political corruption that has negatively impacted US national interests related to democratic stability and foreign assistance goals. They do not wish to impose a similar ban on his wife, daughter, or mother. The cable provided background information to support their recommendation, citing Bangladesh's history of systemic corruption and efforts by the current government to address this issue. Cynicism remains high regarding the Government's ability to hold corrupt leaders accountable. Concerns about corruption continue to erode trust, hindering private sector investment and undermining public confidence in a democratic future. A cable described Tarique Rahman as the feared son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, noting his release on bail and departure to the UK for medical treatment in 2008. The cable also accused Tarique of frequently demanding bribes and being a symbol of corrupt government and violent politics in Bangladesh. Despite facing multiple pending cases of corruption, extortion, bribery, embezzlement, and tax evasion, Tarique was released. Due to his strong political connections that extend to the highest court in the country, Tarique was able to influence the legal system and successfully bypass a united attempt by the Caretaker Government to prevent his release on bail. It is believed that Tarique possesses multiple passports, one of which was recently granted a visa by the UK in September. Another passport holds a five-year multiple-entry B1/B2 visa issued on May 11, 2005, which is suspected to be in the possession of the government. Reports suggest that Tarique has amassed a significant amount of illicit wealth, totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. He is facing multiple extortion charges based on the testimonies of various well-known business owners who were victimized by him. One case involves Tarique allegedly threatening Al Amin Construction owner Amin Ahmed with shutting down his company unless he paid $150,000. Other local business leaders, such as Mohammad Aftab Uddin Khan of Reza Construction, Ltd, Mir Zahir Hossain of Mir Akhter Hossain Ltd., and Harun Ferdousi, have also accused him of engaging in a systematic pattern of extortion on a large scale. In addition to extortion, the ACC has charged him with hiding illicitly obtained wealth, and the National Board of Revenue has accused him of tax evasion. His corrupt activities extended beyond extorting local companies. The ACC has discovered evidence of bribery involving both foreign and local firms and individuals in several cases:

A. Siemens: A witness revealed that Tarique received a bribe of approximately two percent on all Siemens deals in Bangladesh, paid in US dollars. This case is currently being investigated by the DOJ Asset Forfeiture and the FBI.

B. Harbin Company: ACC sources claim that the Chinese construction company, Harbin Company, paid 750,000 USD to Tarique to open a plant. One of Tarique's associates received the bribe and transferred it to Singapore to deposit with Citibank.

C. Monem Construction: An ACC investigator informed Embassy officials that Monem Construction paid a bribe of 450,000 USD to Tarique in order to secure contracts. The ACC has evidence indicating that Tarique accepted a 210 million taka bribe to prevent the prosecution of a murder case against Sanvir Sobhan, the son of the chairman of the Bashundura Group. Sanvir was accused of killing Humayun Kabir, a director of the Bashundura Group. In addition to bribery and extortion, ACC's investigation revealed that Tarique was also involved in a complex embezzlement scheme that was highly profitable. With the assistance of multiple accomplices, Tarique managed to steal 20 million taka (equivalent to 300,000 USD) from the Zia Orphanage Trust fund. According to a source from the ACC, Tarique, who is a co-signer on the trust fund account, used the funds for purchasing land in his hometown. Additionally, he distributed signed checks from the orphanage fund accounts to members of the BNP party for their 2006 election campaigns. Tarique's corrupt actions have had damaging consequences on the US interests outlined in the Proclamation. His behavior has undermined public trust in the government and destabilized democratic institutions. Tarique's well-known disregard for the rule of law poses a direct threat to US financial aid goals aimed at reforming legal systems, promoting good governance, and preventing judicial misconduct. The corruption and dishonest practices that Tarique has promoted in Bangladesh have had a detrimental impact on US businesses, leading to missed opportunities. His embezzlement of public funds has also destabilized the political landscape in this Muslim-majority country and hindered US efforts to establish a stable democratic government, a crucial objective in this important region. Furthermore, Tarique's blatant corruption has jeopardized key priorities of the US Embassy in Dhaka, including promoting democratization, development, and countering terrorism. Tarique's blatantly corrupt behavior puts all three at risk. His record of stealing, blackmailing, and interfering in legal proceedings weakens the legal system and challenges the US objective of a stable, democratic Bangladesh. The culture of corruption and bribery that Tarique encouraged has hindered US efforts to boost economic growth, deterring foreign investment and complicating American companies' operations overseas. Additionally, his blatant disrespect for the law has created a breeding ground for terrorists in Bangladesh, worsening poverty and undermining democratic institutions. Ultimately, much of Bangladesh's problems can be attributed to Tarique and his associates. The cable concludes by stating that applying a 212(f) finding to Tarique Rahman aligns with the US's firm stance against corruption in Bangladesh. The Embassy suggests that Tarique Rahman should be considered subject to Presidential Proclamation 7750 for his involvement in public official corruption as outlined in Section 1, Paragraph (c) of the Proclamation. Six years later, there have been noticeable developments.