Fugitive convicts

Dhaka keen to bring back Nur, Tarique

Foreign minister AKM Abdul Momen yesterday said Bangladesh wants the cooperation of all to bring back all convicted fugitive killers, including Nur Chowdhury and Tarique Rahman. “We want to bring back all convicted fugitive killers. We have been trying to bring them back. It’s a continuous process,” he added.

Momen came up with the remarks before journalists after hailing from a programme, held at the foreign ministry, on receiving set-top boxes for the Internet Protocol Television in Bangladesh missions abroad. Information minister Hasan Mahmud, former ambassador Shahed Akhtar and Vision Blue INC CEO Shamsur Rahman were also present at the event

About bringing back of Nur Chowdhury, who is now staying in Canada, the foreign minister said: “We have stated a legal procedure at a court of Canada. The hearing has been completed. The judge can now deliver a verdict or hold another hearing. We don’t know.”

“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already talked with Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau recently over the issue. We are optimistic about the outcome of the process,” he added.

On bringing back Tarique Rahman, current acting chairman of the BNP and son of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, Momen sadi:, “We are still trying to bring him back to Bangladesh.”

In reply to a query of whether the relations with the countries concerned will be affected if the convicted killers are brought back, the minister said: “It will not affect the relations. Every country wants to bring back their convicted killers. We have started the process.”

A Canadian federal court on Monday held a hearing on a petition, which sought the deportation of Nur Chowdhury. Bangladeshi lawyers and counsels of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada presented their arguments during the hearing.  A verdict on the matter will be delivered by the judge soon.

Foreign ministry sources said Bangladesh aksed Canada to disclose the status of Nur Chowdhury, the self-confessed killer of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. After the Awami League (AL) came to state power in 2009, Nur Chowdhury filed a pre-removal risk assessment application with the Canadian immigration authorities, saying he would face the death penalty if he is sent back to Bangladesh. Any decision on the petition has been kept pending for the last 10 years. The Canadian government has neither accepted nor rejected the application. Since then, the government on different occasions has urged the Canadian government to send back Nur, but the matter has not made much progress.

About the relocation of Rohingays to Bhasan Char, Momen said: “Over 1.1 million Rohingyas are living in a congested area in great hardships. We have given them shelters to save them from persecution by the Myanmar army. Now we fear of landslides during monsoon at the place where they are living. Many may suffer or die. So the government has decided to relocate one lakh Rohingyas.”

“We think that the Rohingyas will be better off if they relocated to that island. But different international organisations say that the Rohingyas may face trouble on Bhasan Char. If they think there will be trouble, we’ll not send any of the refugees to that place. If the Rohingyas say want to go there on their own, we have no objection,” he continued.

“We have made a great arrangement for the Rohingyas at Bhasan Char. The representative of United Nations asked us why we have used iron grills in rooms in the Bhasan Char project. We have grills in every house in Bangladesh. They don’t know facts and are opposing the matter,” he added.  Asked about government’s decision of relocating the Rohingyas by April, the foreign minister said: “We’ve decided to relocate them by April. But if the international communities levy different conditions, we don’t know when the relocation will take place.”  

About the IPTV Blue Box, Momen said: “The boxes will be sent to 78 Bangladesh missions to let our expatriates see the programmes of all Bangladeshi channels to enjoy news and entertainment.”  Appreciating the initiative by private organisations for assistance, the minister said: “It is a one towards public diplomacy. We welcome such initiatives.”

Hasan Mahmud said such initiatives will help uphold the culture and image of the country in a positive way.

 

Fugitive convicts

Dhaka keen to bring back Nur, Tarique

Foreign minister AKM Abdul Momen yesterday said Bangladesh wants the cooperation of all to bring back all convicted fugitive killers, including Nur Chowdhury and Tarique Rahman. We want to bring back all convicted fugitive killers. We have been trying to bring them back. Its a continuous process, he added. Momen came up with the remarks before journalists after hailing from a programme, held at the foreign ministry, on receiving set-top boxes for the Internet Protocol Television in Bangladesh missions abroad. Information minister Hasan Mahmud, former ambassador Shahed Akhtar and Vision Blue INC CEO Shamsur Rahman were also present at the event About bringing back of Nur Chowdhury, who is now staying in Canada, the foreign minister said: We have stated a legal procedure at a court of Canada. The hearing has been completed. The judge can now deliver a verdict or hold another hearing. We dont know. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already talked with Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau recently over the issue. We are optimistic about the outcome of the process, he added. On bringing back Tarique Rahman, current acting chairman of the BNP and son of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, Momen sadi:, We are still trying to bring him back to Bangladesh. In reply to a query of whether the relations with the countries concerned will be affected if the convicted killers are brought back, the minister said: It will not affect the relations. Every country wants to bring back their convicted killers. We have started the process. A Canadian federal court on Monday held a hearing on a petition, which sought the deportation of Nur Chowdhury. Bangladeshi lawyers and counsels of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada presented their arguments during the hearing. A verdict on the matter will be delivered by the judge soon. Foreign ministry sources said Bangladesh aksed Canada to disclose the status of Nur Chowdhury, the self-confessed killer of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. After the Awami League (AL) came to state power in 2009, Nur Chowdhury filed a pre-removal risk assessment application with the Canadian immigration authorities, saying he would face the death penalty if he is sent back to Bangladesh. Any decision on the petition has been kept pending for the last 10 years. The Canadian government has neither accepted nor rejected the application. Since then, the government on different occasions has urged the Canadian government to send back Nur, but the matter has not made much progress. About the relocation of Rohingays to Bhasan Char, Momen said: Over 1.1 million Rohingyas are living in a congested area in great hardships. We have given them shelters to save them from persecution by the Myanmar army. Now we fear of landslides during monsoon at the place where they are living. Many may suffer or die. So the government has decided to relocate one lakh Rohingyas. We think that the Rohingyas will be better off if they relocated to that island. But different international organisations say that the Rohingyas may face trouble on Bhasan Char. If they think there will be trouble, well not send any of the refugees to that place. If the Rohingyas say want to go there on their own, we have no objection, he continued. We have made a great arrangement for the Rohingyas at Bhasan Char. The representative of United Nations asked us why we have used iron grills in rooms in the Bhasan Char project. We have grills in every house in Bangladesh. They dont know facts and are opposing the matter, he added. Asked about governments decision of relocating the Rohingyas by April, the foreign minister said: Weve decided to relocate them by April. But if the international communities levy different conditions, we dont know when the relocation will take place. About the IPTV Blue Box, Momen said: The boxes will be sent to 78 Bangladesh missions to let our expatriates see the programmes of all Bangladeshi channels to enjoy news and entertainment. Appreciating the initiative by private organisations for assistance, the minister said: It is a one towards public diplomacy. We welcome such initiatives. Hasan Mahmud said such initiatives will help uphold the culture and image of the country in a positive way.