The repatriation of self-confessed Bangabandhu killer Noor Chowdhury was to be at the top of Bangladesh’s agenda in the bilateral meeting due to be held this morning (Tuesday) between Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali and his Canadian counterpart Stéphane Dion in Ottawa. The meeting, which is taking place against the backdrop of Prime Minister’s visit to the North American country, was due to be held at 2:00am Bangladesh time on Wednesday.
As part of the government’s continued efforts to bring back convicted killer Noor Chowdhury, the foreign minister will press on the issue, said Foreign Ministry sources. Apart from this, all other aspects of bilateral issues between the two countries will also be discussed between the two foreign ministers, they said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, at a bilateral meeting with her Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau in Montreal last month, 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 sources admitted that the chances of repatriation of Noor Chowdhury are slim right now due to the inflexible Canadian law which forbids extradition of any individual to a country where he or she can face death penalty. But, they hastened to add that despite that Dhaka will continue pressing and working with Ottawa to find an avenue to have Noor Chowdhury back to Bangladesh to face justice. Law Minister Anisul Huq will travel to Canada next month in this regard, said the sources. A reputed law firm was appointed by Bangladesh in February, 2015 to look into the matter, said the sources, adding that according to the law firm ‘the task is tough, but there is a little chance’.