Mobilise public opinion for extradition

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called upon the Bangladeshi expatriates in Canada and the USA to mobilise public opinion for the extradition of convicted killers of Bangabandhu from the two countries.

“I’m leaving a demand before you to write letters to pubic representatives of those countries where you’re residing and ask why those countries would give shelter to the killers of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” she said.

The PM was addressing a reception accorded to her at Centre Mont-Royal in Montreal by Bangladeshi expatriates on Saturday.

Canada unit president of Awami League Golam Mohammad Mahmud Mia presided over the programme attended, among others, by Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque and AL Office Secretary and PM’s Special Assistant Abdus Sobhan Golap.

“So far the government knows that one convicted killer of Bangabandhu is hiding in the USA, one in Canada, two in Pakistan while two others remain traceless. How could a civilised country give shelter to a convicted killer?” she said.

Hasina said Bangladesh government has already asked the US and Canada why they are nurturing and giving shelter to the killers.

She said it has been mentioned in the Canadian constitution that the country will not deport anybody if death sentence is given against him or her. “What type of provision is it?” she questioned.

Hasina said the killers of Bangabandhu are the citizens of Bangladesh and their punishment will be ensured as per the law of the country. “Why are efforts being made to save the killers?”

She said why the countries will give shelter to those who had committed crimes like murder. It could be a different matter if the killers were their citizens. “If they want to give shelter to the killers, then all murderers will seek shelter from those countries.”

Hasina said it means the countries without having the provision of death sentence would be a safe haven for killers!

She said her government has been working to bring back the fugitive killers of Bangabandhu since 1996. “Our efforts will continue to execute the court verdict against the killers by bringing them back home.”

In a bilateral meeting between the prime ministers of Bangladesh and Canada on Friday, both countries agreed to find out a solution about the extradition of the self-confessed killer of Bangabandhu living in Canada, Noor Chowdhury, through discussions.

About the trials of war criminals, she said the government faced obstructions and she received many telephone calls from “big places” during the trials and execution of verdicts against the culprits.

 “I replied that our judiciary is independent, and there are laws in our country, and verdicts would be implemented as per the laws,” she said.

Talking about terrorism and militancy, Hasina said these are now not a problem for any particular country rather a global issue.

She also urged the expatriate Bangladeshis to remain alert so that their children do not get engaged in militancy.

“I would like to tell you to stay alert about your children and keep eyes on them to know what they do, where they go and with whom they get close to…it’s a responsibility of everybody — guardians, teachers and imams.”

Referring to the attack on Holey Artisan Bakery at Gulshan in Dhaka, Hasina said those who carried out the attack studied in Canada, Malaysia, Australia and other places.

“All expect that those who study abroad would be liberal minded. But question arises in public mind how these youths got engaged in fanaticism undermining Islam,” she said.

The PM said the intensified anti-militancy drive by her government yielded results as those who planned further attacks were arrested.

“We’re taking tough action and it’ll continue …the law enforcement agencies have been working with utmost sincerity and integrity to this end,” she said.

Source: The Daily Star