Parleys on with countries to bring back BD convicts

Foreign minister tells journos

FE Report | March 28, 2019 00:00:00

The government is continuing parleys with the countries concerned to bring back home the convicted Bangladeshis, including BNP Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman and Noor Chowdhury, one of the killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, so that court verdicts against them can be executed.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said this while talking to newsmen after a programme in his ministry.

"We're trying to get back all the convicted Bangladeshis, not only Tariqe Rahman," the minister said when asked about the development regarding the government's move to pursue the UK government into extraditing Tarique Rahman.

Responding to a question, he said legal process has been started in Canada regarding the extradition of Bangabandhu killer Noor Chowdhury.

"We are monitoring the court proceedings," he mentioned.

Replying to a query whether the relations with UK and Canada would be strained if they fail to send back the convicted Bangladeshis like Tarique and Noor Chowdhury, the minister said he was hopeful that the convicted persons would be extradited to Bangladesh.

Tarique, eldest son of former prime minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, was arrested and later sent to London by the military-backed caretaker government in 2008.

He was convicted in the August 21 grenade attack case.

Noor Chowdhury was awarded death sentence by the apex court in the Bangabandhu murder case.

After Awami League came to state power in 2009, Noor Chowdhury filed a pre-removal risk assessment application with the Canadian immigration authorities saying he would face death penalty if he was sent back to Bangladesh; but the decision has been kept pending for the past 10 years.

In June 2018, Bangladesh lodged a writ of mandamus with the Federal Court seeking definite decision on the matter.

In a separate meeting, Law Minister Anisul Huq urged the British High Commissioner Robert Chatterton Dickson to take due steps to extradite Tarique Rahman when the High Commissioner called on him at his residence.

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