PM reiterates call for Nur Chowdhury’s extradition from Canada

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QUEBEC, Canada, June 11, 2018 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reiterated her request for deportation of Nur Chowdhury, one of Bangabandhu’s convicted killers, as she held a meeting here with her Canadian counterpart Justine Trudeau on Sunday.

Bangladesh premier’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim said she called for Trudeau’s personal initiative for immediate extradition of the self-confessed killer, one of the two assassins who directly shot Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman dead.

“Nur Chowdhury is a killer of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman . . . He is a self-confessed assassin and was convicted under the law of Bangladesh,” he quoted Sheikh Hasina as saying during the meeting with Trudeau.

Karim said in reply the Canadian premier expressed his compassion to Sheikh Hasina saying “I can understand how painful it is for you”.

Trudeau said concerned Canadian officials were quietly engaged in dealing with the issue while he Trudeau pointed out his country’s legal system about deportation of a person convicted with death penalty.

According to Karim the Canadian premier simultaneously pointed out that Nur Chowdhury could not obtain citizen status in Canada and he was not a citizen of Canada.

The press secretary said the two leaders discussed other various matters related to mutual interests particularly the issues including repatriation of displaced Rohingyas to Myanmar while Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali accompanied Sheikh Hasina.

The Bangladesh premier expressed her gratitude to the Canadian government for the support and assistance extended to her government in the wake of Rohingya crisis.

She said Bangladesh was particularly thankful to the Global Affairs Canada, the Senate, House of Commons, and especially Canadian media for raising concerns about the ethnic cleansing and gross violation of human rights of the Rohingyas in Myanmar forcing their subsequent exodus.

Sheikh Hasina also pointed out though Myanmar signed an agreement signed with Bangladesh promising to return the Rohingyas it remained silent when question of implementation of the agreement came.

She explained her government’s decision to relocate the tens of thousands of forcibly displaced foreign population to the offshore island of “Bhashanchar” for their own safety and benefits as their current makeshift abode on hilltops appeared highly vulnerable.

PM’s Principal Secretary Md. Najibur Rahman and Foreign Secretary Md. Shahidul Haq were present during the meeting held at Le Petit Frontence, the Canadian premier’s residence.