Govt increases efforts to bring back Bangabandhu killers

The Awami League-led government has significantly increased its diplomatic efforts and other activities in a bid to bring back the six fugitive convicted killers of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, from different countries. Party sources said the Sheikh Hasina government has been relentlessly trying to bring back the six fugitive killers to the country. They said the government is carrying out legal and diplomatic efforts, together, to execute its plan.

AL president and Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, has held several rounds of repatriation talks with the heads of those countries where her father’s killers are now staying.

Earlier, during the G7 Summit on June 12 this year, the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had called upon Canadian Prime Minister Justine Trudeau to deport Noor Chowdhury, one of the killers who now stays in Canada.

Government sources said two law firms have already been engaged by the government in the US and Canada to bring back the fugitive convicted killers Lt. Col. (sacked) AM Rashed Chowdhury and Major (Retd) Noor Chowdhury, respectively.

The government formed a task force on March 28, 2010, with law minister Anisul Huq as its head, which has been working on this issue.

When contacted, Huq said: “We have been working on this issue and I hope the government will be able to bring back the fugitive killers of Bangabandhu hiding in the US and Canada.”

Talking to this correspondent over current developments, home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said the government has been working with sincerity to bring back the six fugitive convicted killers of Father of the Nation.

“The government has already appointed an internationally reputed lawyer to help bring back the convicted fugitive killers of Bangabandhu,” he said.

The home minister also said the government has obtained updated information on all six fugitive killers of Bangabandhu. “Legal and diplomatic efforts are now underway to bring back all the fugitive killers hiding in different countries,” he added.

About the Canadian stance on Bangabandhu’s killer hiding in the country, Kamal said the Canadian government, in principle, has agreed to send back one of Bangabandhu’s fugitive convicted killers, Noor Chowdhury, to the country, but they have sought assurance that Chowdhury will not be hanged in Bangladesh, as death penalty is prohibited in Canada.

Efforts are also on to get back one of the self-confessed killers Risaldar Muslemuddin, who is believed to be in India now, government sources said.

The authorities, however, are not yet confirmed about the whereabouts of three other fugitive killers—Lt Col (relieved) Shariful Haque Dalim, and Captain Abdul Majed but unconfirmed sources claimed that Shariful Haque Dalim and Abdul Majed might have been hiding in Zimbabwe or Libya and Senegal respectively.

 Earlier, on November 19, 2009, the Supreme Court upheld a High Court verdict, confirming capital punishment for 12 people, including the six, for killing the Father of the Nation along with most of his family members on August 15, 1975.

Five others convicted in the case—Syed Farooq Rahman, Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, Bazlul Huda, AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed, and Mohiuddin Ahmed—were hanged on January 27, 2010.

Another killer, Aziz Pasha, died in Zimbabwe in 2001. The country had earlier launched a campaign to track down and bring back the six fugitive ex-army officers hiding abroad.

Meanwhile, the nation is set to observe the 43rd anniversary of the assassination on Wednesday.

The self-confessed killers did not assassinate Bangabandhu alone, but also killed 16 others, including members of his family, friends and other relatives.

They include Bangabandhu’s wife Begum Fazilatunnessa Mujib, sons Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russell, daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal, and Rosy Jamal, brother Sheikh Naser, brother-in-law Abdur Rab Serniabat, nephew and eminent journalist Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni, his pregnant wife Arzoo Moni, and Col. Jamil.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina, the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu, escaped the planned assassination with her sister Sheikh Rehana as they were staying abroad.

Like previous years, the government, the Awami League, different political and socio-cultural organisations, educational institutions, and professional groups have planned elaborate programmes to pay respect to the Father of the Nation.

 

Govt increases efforts to bring back Bangabandhu killers

The Awami League-led government has significantly increased its diplomatic efforts and other activities in a bid to bring back the six fugitive convicted killers of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, from different countries. Party sources said the Sheikh Hasina government has been relentlessly trying to bring back the six fugitive killers to the country. They said the government is carrying out legal and diplomatic efforts, together, to execute its plan. AL president and Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, has held several rounds of repatriation talks with the heads of those countries where her fathers killers are now staying. Earlier, during the G7 Summit on June 12 this year, the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had called upon Canadian Prime Minister Justine Trudeau to deport Noor Chowdhury, one of the killers who now stays in Canada. Government sources said two law firms have already been engaged by the government in the US and Canada to bring back the fugitive convicted killers Lt. Col. (sacked) AM Rashed Chowdhury and Major (Retd) Noor Chowdhury, respectively. The government formed a task force on March 28, 2010, with law minister Anisul Huq as its head, which has been working on this issue. When contacted, Huq said: We have been working on this issue and I hope the government will be able to bring back the fugitive killers of Bangabandhu hiding in the US and Canada. Talking to this correspondent over current developments, home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said the government has been working with sincerity to bring back the six fugitive convicted killers of Father of the Nation. The government has already appointed an internationally reputed lawyer to help bring back the convicted fugitive killers of Bangabandhu, he said. The home minister also said the government has obtained updated information on all six fugitive killers of Bangabandhu. Legal and diplomatic efforts are now underway to bring back all the fugitive killers hiding in different countries, he added. About the Canadian stance on Bangabandhus killer hiding in the country, Kamal said the Canadian government, in principle, has agreed to send back one of Bangabandhus fugitive convicted killers, Noor Chowdhury, to the country, but they have sought assurance that Chowdhury will not be hanged in Bangladesh, as death penalty is prohibited in Canada. Efforts are also on to get back one of the self-confessed killers Risaldar Muslemuddin, who is believed to be in India now, government sources said. The authorities, however, are not yet confirmed about the whereabouts of three other fugitive killersLt Col (relieved) Shariful Haque Dalim, and Captain Abdul Majed but unconfirmed sources claimed that Shariful Haque Dalim and Abdul Majed might have been hiding in Zimbabwe or Libya and Senegal respectively. Earlier, on November 19, 2009, the Supreme Court upheld a High Court verdict, confirming capital punishment for 12 people, including the six, for killing the Father of the Nation along with most of his family members on August 15, 1975. Five others convicted in the caseSyed Farooq Rahman, Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, Bazlul Huda, AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed, and Mohiuddin Ahmedwere hanged on January 27, 2010. Another killer, Aziz Pasha, died in Zimbabwe in 2001. The country had earlier launched a campaign to track down and bring back the six fugitive ex-army officers hiding abroad. Meanwhile, the nation is set to observe the 43rd anniversary of the assassination on Wednesday. The self-confessed killers did not assassinate Bangabandhu alone, but also killed 16 others, including members of his family, friends and other relatives. They include Bangabandhus wife Begum Fazilatunnessa Mujib, sons Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russell, daughters-in-law Sultana Kamal, and Rosy Jamal, brother Sheikh Naser, brother-in-law Abdur Rab Serniabat, nephew and eminent journalist Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni, his pregnant wife Arzoo Moni, and Col. Jamil. Prime minister Sheikh Hasina, the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu, escaped the planned assassination with her sister Sheikh Rehana as they were staying abroad. Like previous years, the government, the Awami League, different political and socio-cultural organisations, educational institutions, and professional groups have planned elaborate programmes to pay respect to the Father of the Nation.