PM�S COMMENT ON GIVING SHELTER TO BANGABANDHU KILLERS BY 3 COUNTRIES

Cautious reaction from Dhaka missions

Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka yesterday refused comments on the remarks made by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who on Wednesday said in parliament that two of the convicted killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman are in Pakistan and that Islamabad was not cooperating with Bangladesh in this regard.
The prime minister, while replying to a question, criticised three countries – Pakistan, United States and Canada – for not helping Bangladesh in bringing back the killers of Bangabandhu from those countries.
Khandkar Abdur Rashid and Shariful Haque Dalim are reportedly living in Pakistan, Rashed Chowdhury and Moslehuddin in the US, and Noor Chowdhury in Canada, she told the House.
About the presence of two killers in Pakistan, the prime minister said the Pakistani government never admitted it and that Islamabad was not cooperating with Dhaka in this regard.
When contacted, Ambreen Jan, press counsellor of the Pakistan high commission in Dhaka, told The Independent yesterday that the mission would not make any comments on the issue.
“We are not going to make any comments about it. We are sending the information to the foreign ministry in Islamabad. Spokesperson of the foreign ministry will make comment if there is any,” she said.
However, an official of the high commission requesting anonymity, said, “This is news to me.” In response to a query on the PM’s remarks, spokesperson of the US embassy in Dhaka, Nancy VanHorn, in an email communication said, “The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has standing guidance against sharing information about asylum-seekers with their home countries.”

 Additionally, she said, “Under US law, the US embassy cannot comment on whether a person has applied for asylum or any details about the status of an asylum case.”
“The only legal way that the United States can officially communicate asylum-related information to a foreign government is either through the written consent of the asylum applicant or through the discretion of the secretary for homeland security,” she added.
The Canadian High Commission in Dhaka is yet to respond to the mail sent by this correspondent asking for comments.
Senior foreign ministry officials concerned, when approached, declined to make any comments on the prime minister’s remarks in parliament.
However, a senior official said, “Apart from the foreign ministry, there are others that provide the premier with information with regard to the issue relating to the killing of Bangabandhu.”
Out of the 12 convict in the Bangabandhu murder case, five were hanged in 2010, one died in exile while the rest remain fugitive.

PM�S COMMENT ON GIVING SHELTER TO BANGABANDHU KILLERS BY 3 COUNTRIES

Cautious reaction from Dhaka missions

Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka yesterday refused comments on the remarks made by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who on Wednesday said in parliament that two of the convicted killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman are in Pakistan and that Islamabad was not cooperating with Bangladesh in this regard. The prime minister, while replying to a question, criticised three countries Pakistan, United States and Canada for not helping Bangladesh in bringing back the killers of Bangabandhu from those countries. Khandkar Abdur Rashid and Shariful Haque Dalim are reportedly living in Pakistan, Rashed Chowdhury and Moslehuddin in the US, and Noor Chowdhury in Canada, she told the House. About the presence of two killers in Pakistan, the prime minister said the Pakistani government never admitted it and that Islamabad was not cooperating with Dhaka in this regard. When contacted, Ambreen Jan, press counsellor of the Pakistan high commission in Dhaka, told The Independent yesterday that the mission would not make any comments on the issue. We are not going to make any comments about it. We are sending the information to the foreign ministry in Islamabad. Spokesperson of the foreign ministry will make comment if there is any, she said. However, an official of the high commission requesting anonymity, said, This is news to me. In response to a query on the PMs remarks, spokesperson of the US embassy in Dhaka, Nancy VanHorn, in an email communication said, The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has standing guidance against sharing information about asylum-seekers with their home countries. Additionally, she said, Under US law, the US embassy cannot comment on whether a person has applied for asylum or any details about the status of an asylum case. The only legal way that the United States can officially communicate asylum-related information to a foreign government is either through the written consent of the asylum applicant or through the discretion of the secretary for homeland security, she added. The Canadian High Commission in Dhaka is yet to respond to the mail sent by this correspondent asking for comments. Senior foreign ministry officials concerned, when approached, declined to make any comments on the prime ministers remarks in parliament. However, a senior official said, Apart from the foreign ministry, there are others that provide the premier with information with regard to the issue relating to the killing of Bangabandhu. Out of the 12 convict in the Bangabandhu murder case, five were hanged in 2010, one died in exile while the rest remain fugitive.