Extradition of Bangabandhu killers
Dhaka sends letter to US state department
US Attorney-General has not given us appointment: FM
MIR MOSTAFIZUR RAHAMAN | Tuesday, 15 August 2023
Foreign Ministry has sent a letter to the US State Department requesting the US government to take necessary steps to send back Rashed Chowdhury, the convicted killer of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, to Bangladesh immediately.
"Few days ago, we have sent the letter to the US State Department and they will send it to the US attorney general" the foreign minister AK Abdul Momen told the FE when asked about the latest government move to bring back Rashed Chowdhury
During the period of the trump administration, the then Attorney General sought to see the file regarding the case of Rashed Chowdhury. He also sought some information about the trial of the Bangabandhu murder.
"We provided him with all related information, but since then we have not heard anything from the office of the US attorney general", the minister said.
"We sought the appointment of the Attorney General but we were not given one", the foreign minister added.
Regarding the extradition of another convicted killer Noor Chowdhury, foreign minister said that the Canadian government said that they could not send Chowdhury to Bangladesh unless the capital punishment was abolished.
"But we told them that this is the verdict of our court, and our judiciary is independent. We cannot ask them to reduce the punishment".
"We also told the Canadian government why Chowdhury is moving freely in Canada. You should put in jail because he deserves punishment", the minister added.
Replying to a question why despite being in power for three consecutive terms, the Awami League government failed to bring back the convicted killers of Bangabandhu, the foreign minister said that since 1975, no government raised the issue for 26 years. And in the meantime, many evidence and documents were distorted and destroyed. "Even many have changed their identities as they were posted in foreign missions, they were given huge privilege" he said arguing that it is not logical to make this government responsible for this.
"Why don't you ask this question to those who ruled the country in those 26 years, from 1975 to 1996?" the minister asked.
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