REPATRIATION OF BANGABANDHU KILLERS

Bangladesh firm, Canada, US reluctant

Though most unlikely, Dhaka will continue making efforts to bring back Noor Chowdhury, a self-confessed killer of Bangabandhu who resides in Canada, to execute the verdict of the court, senior foreign ministry officials told The Independent yesterday.

The same efforts will be on in case of another convicted killer Rashed Chowdhury, who is living in the United States, they said.
Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali will visit Canada on October 25 while Law Minister Anisul Huq will be in Canada next month to pursue the repatriation of the two killers, said the officials.
There will be more officials from the Law Ministry to conduct the talk regarding the repatriation of Noor Chowdhury as well as Rashed Chowdhury in US, they said.
There appear to be a lack of interest on the part of Canada and US to send the killers back to Bangladesh, said a senior official. 
Prime Minister, at a bilateral meeting with her Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau in Montreal, raised the issue and both the leaders agreed to sit together to find way to send Noor Chowdhury back to Bangladesh to face justice.
“The message from the meeting was; you (officials of the two countries) sit together and find a way to send him back,” a top Foreign Ministry official said.
“Prime Minister Hasina told her Canadian counterpart that Noor Chowdhury himself shot my brother Sheikh Kamal,” he said, adding, “The Canadian Prime Minister was sympathetic, but mentioned legal constraint in sending him back.”
“This is for the first time any Bangladeshi Prime Minister raised issue to the Canadian Prime Minister,” said the official.
“The Canadian Prime Minister said I was not briefed about it. Through this meeting the Canadian leader got a clear picture about the issue,” he added.
The top official further said, “During his visit to Canada in February, 2015, Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque appointed a law firm after interviewing the people concerned. That firm is renowned for handling this type of cases.” The name of the law firm is Torys LLP.

In September 2015, the foreign minister wrote to Finance Minister AMA Muhith seeking money to pay the law firm.
In the letter, Mahmood Ali said, although the Canadian Supreme Court verdict says that Canada does not favour handing over a condemned convict except under very ‘special circumstances’.
The term ‘special circumstances’ was not elaborated in the verdict, he wrote, adding that if the crime committed by Noor Chowdhury can be proved in the court as ‘special’ there might be a possibility of bringing him back.
“The task is tough, but there is little chance,” he said, adding that the review petition of killer Noor Chowdhury was not accepted by the Canadian authorities.
To a question, he ruled out any extradition through a third country.  
“According to a ruling of the Supreme Court of Canada any person cannot be extradited to a country where he or she will face death penalty,” said a senior official familiar with the proceedings of the issue.
“So, understandably, this is going to be tough,” he said.
“The Canadian Prime Minister appeared to be understanding of the issue. He also does not want any irritant to remain in the relationship,” said another senior official, adding that the issue of the capital punishment to be faced by Noor Chowdhury is the main obstacle to his repatriation.
About the extradition of Rashed Chowdhury living in US, the officials said that efforts are on both diplomatically and legally to bring him back.
“I think there is absence of interest from Canada and US about sending them back,” said an official, adding, “Both the Canadian Prime Minister and US Secretary of State John Kerry recently said that they were not briefed about these. It cannot be the case. They are usually briefed on small things. But, how can it be possible that they will not be briefed about such an important issues.”

REPATRIATION OF BANGABANDHU KILLERS

Bangladesh firm, Canada, US reluctant

Though most unlikely, Dhaka will continue making efforts to bring back Noor Chowdhury, a self-confessed killer of Bangabandhu who resides in Canada, to execute the verdict of the court, senior foreign ministry officials told The Independent yesterday. The same efforts will be on in case of another convicted killer Rashed Chowdhury, who is living in the United States, they said. Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali will visit Canada on October 25 while Law Minister Anisul Huq will be in Canada next month to pursue the repatriation of the two killers, said the officials. There will be more officials from the Law Ministry to conduct the talk regarding the repatriation of Noor Chowdhury as well as Rashed Chowdhury in US, they said. There appear to be a lack of interest on the part of Canada and US to send the killers back to Bangladesh, said a senior official. Prime Minister, at a bilateral meeting with her Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau in Montreal, raised the issue and both the leaders agreed to sit together to find way to send Noor Chowdhury back to Bangladesh to face justice. The message from the meeting was; you (officials of the two countries) sit together and find a way to send him back, a top Foreign Ministry official said. Prime Minister Hasina told her Canadian counterpart that Noor Chowdhury himself shot my brother Sheikh Kamal, he said, adding, The Canadian Prime Minister was sympathetic, but mentioned legal constraint in sending him back. This is for the first time any Bangladeshi Prime Minister raised issue to the Canadian Prime Minister, said the official. The Canadian Prime Minister said I was not briefed about it. Through this meeting the Canadian leader got a clear picture about the issue, he added. The top official further said, During his visit to Canada in February, 2015, Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque appointed a law firm after interviewing the people concerned. That firm is renowned for handling this type of cases. The name of the law firm is Torys LLP. In September 2015, the foreign minister wrote to Finance Minister AMA Muhith seeking money to pay the law firm. In the letter, Mahmood Ali said, although the Canadian Supreme Court verdict says that Canada does not favour handing over a condemned convict except under very special circumstances. The term special circumstances was not elaborated in the verdict, he wrote, adding that if the crime committed by Noor Chowdhury can be proved in the court as special there might be a possibility of bringing him back. The task is tough, but there is little chance, he said, adding that the review petition of killer Noor Chowdhury was not accepted by the Canadian authorities. To a question, he ruled out any extradition through a third country. According to a ruling of the Supreme Court of Canada any person cannot be extradited to a country where he or she will face death penalty, said a senior official familiar with the proceedings of the issue. So, understandably, this is going to be tough, he said. The Canadian Prime Minister appeared to be understanding of the issue. He also does not want any irritant to remain in the relationship, said another senior official, adding that the issue of the capital punishment to be faced by Noor Chowdhury is the main obstacle to his repatriation. About the extradition of Rashed Chowdhury living in US, the officials said that efforts are on both diplomatically and legally to bring him back. I think there is absence of interest from Canada and US about sending them back, said an official, adding, Both the Canadian Prime Minister and US Secretary of State John Kerry recently said that they were not briefed about these. It cannot be the case. They are usually briefed on small things. But, how can it be possible that they will not be briefed about such an important issues.