Convicted killers of Bangabandhu

Moslehuddin now in US

Moslehuddin Khan, one of the convicted killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, is now residing in the United States. US Ambassador to Bangladesh Marcia Bernicat made it known yesterday at a meeting with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam at his office, diplomatic sources told The Independent. India has been believed to be Moslehuddin’s place of residence. Bernicat also informed the State Minister that Moslehuddin, one of the six absconding Bangabandhu killers, had applied for political asylum in the US, but his application was turned down by the authorities, said the sources. However, it could not be known how long the Bangabandhu killer has been living for in the US.
Regarding his repatriation to Bangladesh, the US Ambassador said that more information is required for the authorities to make a decision, according to the sources.
According to government sources, the prospect to bring back the six absconding killers of Bangabandhu appears to be low at the moment.
They are of the opinion that renewed efforts are essentially necessary to trace them and bring back those already traced overcoming the legal challenges.
Among the absconders, the government, till now, knows the whereabouts of three --- Rashed Chowdhury, Moslehuddin and Nur Chowdhury.
The government has no clear idea about the places of residence of the other three convicted killers—Khandaker Abdur Rashid, Shariful Haque Dalim and Abdul Mazed.
At the meeting yesterday with the State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, the US Ambassador also informed that Rashed Chowdhury had got political asylum of the country, said sources concerned, adding that this particular development has made the matter even more difficult for the government to bring him back.
This is the first time Washington made it clear the status of Rashed Chowhdury, they said.
“Now, we have to provide with new information regarding Rashed Chowdhury to get the decision of granting political asylum overturned,” said a source requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.
Rashed Chowdhury is currently residing in the US State of California, said the source.
Another convict, Nur Chowdhury, has applied for political asylum in Canada and his application is under consideration, said the sources, adding that as per Canadian law, no one is sent to his country if he or she faces capital punishment.
Regarding Moslehuddin, sources said that it is always difficult to bring back convicts from US as there is no extradition treaty between Dhaka and Washington.
Since Dhaka does not know the whereabouts of the other three absconders, it can be easily understood the difficulties to bring them back to the country, they said.
However, said the sources that the government is trying its best to bring them back so that they can face justice.
As part of government’s efforts, they said that a reputed Ney York-based law firm was appointed in March or April to bring back the killers living in US and Canada.
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on November 19, 2009 upheld the death penalty of 12 convicted ex-army officers for the assassination of Bangabandhu and his family on August 15, 1975.
Five of the convicts—Syed Farooq Rahman, Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, Bazlul Huda, AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed, and Mohiuddin Ahmed—were hanged on January 27, 2010.
Sixth convict, Aziz Pasha, died in Zimbabwe in 2001.
Meanwhile, State Minister Shahriar told journalists after the meeting that US envoy informed him that Rashed Chowdhury is staying in US under political asylum.
Knowing his immigration status will make it easier for the government to bring him back, he said.
Shahriar claimed that the government took a number of steps to bring the Bangabadhu killers back, but would not elaborate.
The government can appeal to revoke the political asylum decision of Rashed Chwodhury, he said.
When asked why they did not appeal earlier, he admitted that the government was not clearly aware of the development regarding political asylum.
Appeal was unsuccessfully made before Rashed Chowdhury was granted political asylum, he added.
About Nur Chowdhury living in Canada, the State Minister said that the convicted killer applied for political asylum but it has been under consideration for the last five or six years.
Citing Canadian law that does not allow anybody to be sent back to face death penalty in his or her country, he admitted that it is a complicated task since both countries do not have any extradition treaty.
Shahriar expressed optimism that the government will be able to bring back at least one killer during the tenure of the current government.
About the status of Dalim, he said the government does not have any specific information about him.
When asked about the where about of Rashid, he said that there is no specific information about him as well.
About Abdul Mazed and Moslehuddin, Shahriar said that Dhaka has been informed by Delhi that they are not in India.

Convicted killers of Bangabandhu

Moslehuddin now in US

Moslehuddin Khan, one of the convicted killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, is now residing in the United States. US Ambassador to Bangladesh Marcia Bernicat made it known yesterday at a meeting with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam at his office, diplomatic sources told The Independent. India has been believed to be Moslehuddins place of residence. Bernicat also informed the State Minister that Moslehuddin, one of the six absconding Bangabandhu killers, had applied for political asylum in the US, but his application was turned down by the authorities, said the sources. However, it could not be known how long the Bangabandhu killer has been living for in the US. Regarding his repatriation to Bangladesh, the US Ambassador said that more information is required for the authorities to make a decision, according to the sources. According to government sources, the prospect to bring back the six absconding killers of Bangabandhu appears to be low at the moment. They are of the opinion that renewed efforts are essentially necessary to trace them and bring back those already traced overcoming the legal challenges. Among the absconders, the government, till now, knows the whereabouts of three --- Rashed Chowdhury, Moslehuddin and Nur Chowdhury. The government has no clear idea about the places of residence of the other three convicted killersKhandaker Abdur Rashid, Shariful Haque Dalim and Abdul Mazed. At the meeting yesterday with the State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, the US Ambassador also informed that Rashed Chowdhury had got political asylum of the country, said sources concerned, adding that this particular development has made the matter even more difficult for the government to bring him back. This is the first time Washington made it clear the status of Rashed Chowhdury, they said. Now, we have to provide with new information regarding Rashed Chowdhury to get the decision of granting political asylum overturned, said a source requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue. Rashed Chowdhury is currently residing in the US State of California, said the source. Another convict, Nur Chowdhury, has applied for political asylum in Canada and his application is under consideration, said the sources, adding that as per Canadian law, no one is sent to his country if he or she faces capital punishment. Regarding Moslehuddin, sources said that it is always difficult to bring back convicts from US as there is no extradition treaty between Dhaka and Washington. Since Dhaka does not know the whereabouts of the other three absconders, it can be easily understood the difficulties to bring them back to the country, they said. However, said the sources that the government is trying its best to bring them back so that they can face justice. As part of governments efforts, they said that a reputed Ney York-based law firm was appointed in March or April to bring back the killers living in US and Canada. The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on November 19, 2009 upheld the death penalty of 12 convicted ex-army officers for the assassination of Bangabandhu and his family on August 15, 1975. Five of the convictsSyed Farooq Rahman, Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, Bazlul Huda, AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed, and Mohiuddin Ahmedwere hanged on January 27, 2010. Sixth convict, Aziz Pasha, died in Zimbabwe in 2001. Meanwhile, State Minister Shahriar told journalists after the meeting that US envoy informed him that Rashed Chowdhury is staying in US under political asylum. Knowing his immigration status will make it easier for the government to bring him back, he said. Shahriar claimed that the government took a number of steps to bring the Bangabadhu killers back, but would not elaborate. The government can appeal to revoke the political asylum decision of Rashed Chwodhury, he said. When asked why they did not appeal earlier, he admitted that the government was not clearly aware of the development regarding political asylum. Appeal was unsuccessfully made before Rashed Chowdhury was granted political asylum, he added. About Nur Chowdhury living in Canada, the State Minister said that the convicted killer applied for political asylum but it has been under consideration for the last five or six years. Citing Canadian law that does not allow anybody to be sent back to face death penalty in his or her country, he admitted that it is a complicated task since both countries do not have any extradition treaty. Shahriar expressed optimism that the government will be able to bring back at least one killer during the tenure of the current government. About the status of Dalim, he said the government does not have any specific information about him. When asked about the where about of Rashid, he said that there is no specific information about him as well. About Abdul Mazed and Moslehuddin, Shahriar said that Dhaka has been informed by Delhi that they are not in India.