The Embassy believes that Tarique is responsible for severe political corruption that has negatively impacted US national interests, specifically the stability of democratic institutions and US foreign assistance goals as outlined in Section 4 of the proclamation. The Embassy, while labeling the cable as 'confidential', stated that they did not want to impose a similar ban on Tarique's wife, Dr. Zubaida Rahman, their daughter Zaima, or Tarique's mother Khaleda Zia, who is a former Prime Minister of Bangladesh. The cable provided a detailed explanation to support its recommendations, citing Bangladesh as a developing nation with widespread corruption. The current Caretaker Government, which came into power in January 2007 after months of political turmoil, has promised to combat corruption and eliminate the pervasive kleptocracy that has plagued the poverty-stricken nation. Corruption has been identified as a major factor in reducing Bangladesh's growth rate by two percent per year, according to experts. There is a high level of skepticism regarding the Government's ability to hold corrupt leaders accountable, which continues to fuel concerns about corruption and erode trust in the private sector and confidence in a democratic future. A cable described Tarique Rahman as the feared son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, highlighting his reputation for demanding bribes and involvement in corrupt activities. Despite facing multiple charges including corruption, extortion, bribery, embezzlement, and tax evasion, Tarique was released on bail and left Bangladesh for medical treatment in the UK in 2008. Due to his strong political connections, Tarique was able to influence the legal system and successfully bypass attempts by the Caretaker Government to prevent him from obtaining bail. It is believed that Tarique possesses multiple passports, one of which was issued by the UK in September and another with a five-year multiple-entry visa issued in May 2005. There are suspicions that one of his passports is being held by the government. It has been reported that Tarique has amassed a significant amount of illegal wealth amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars. He is facing multiple extortion charges based on the testimonies of various prominent business owners who he preyed upon and manipulated. One instance involves Tarique allegedly blackmailing Amin Ahmed, owner of Al Amin Construction, threatening to shut down his company unless he paid $150,000. Other local business figures, such as Mohammad Aftab Uddin Khan of Reza Construction, Ltd., Mir Zahir Hossain of Mir Akhter Hossain Ltd., and Harun Ferdousi, have also accused Tarique of engaging in a systematic extortion scheme involving millions of dollars. Additionally, the ACC has charged him with hiding illicit wealth, and the National Board of Revenue has accused him of tax evasion. Tarique's corrupt actions extended beyond extorting local businesses. The ACC has discovered evidence of bribery cases involving both foreign and local firms and individuals. One case involves Siemens, where Tarique allegedly received a two percent bribe on all deals in Bangladesh. Another case involves the Harbin Company, which reportedly paid $750,000 to Tarique to open a plant. Monem Construction also allegedly paid a bribe of $450,000 to Tarique to secure contracts. These cases are currently being pursued by the DOJ and the FBI. The ACC has evidence 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. The murder case involved the killing of Humayun Kabir, a director of the same group. In addition to bribery and extortion, the ACC also found that Tarique was involved in an elaborate embezzlement scheme. With the help of multiple associates, Tarique successfully stole 20 million taka (300,000 USD) from the Zia Orphanage Trust fund. An ACC source revealed that Tarique, who is a co-signer on the trust fund account, utilized the funds for purchasing land in his hometown. Additionally, he gave signed checks from the orphanage fund accounts to BNP party members for their 2006 election campaigns. Tarique's corrupt actions have negatively impacted the interests of the US as outlined in the Proclamation, as they have diminished public trust in the government and undermined the strength of democratic institutions. Tarique's well-known disregard for the rule of law poses a direct threat to the United States' financial assistance objectives aimed at reforming legal systems, promoting good governance, and preventing judicial abuses. The culture of corruption, bribery, and embezzlement that Tarique has perpetuated in Bangladesh has significantly hindered US businesses, leading to missed opportunities. His embezzlement of millions of dollars in public funds has destabilized the political landscape in this Muslim-majority nation and hindered US efforts to establish a stable democratic government in a crucial region. Additionally, Tarique's corruption has jeopardized specific goals of the US Mission, including promoting democratization, fostering development, and combating terrorism in Bangladesh. Tarique's brazenly corrupt actions put all three at risk. His track record of stealing, blackmailing, and interfering with the legal system undermines the rule of law and poses a threat to the US objective of a stable, democratic Bangladesh. The culture of corruption and bribery that Tarique encouraged hindered US efforts to boost economic growth by deterring foreign investment and complicating the operations of American companies abroad. Additionally, his blatant disregard for laws has created a fertile ground for terrorists to infiltrate Bangladesh, as well as worsening poverty and weakening democratic institutions. In essence, 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, significant developments have taken place.