UNB, Dhaka :
The United States on Thursday assured Bangladesh of cooperation when Bangladesh sought its support in bringing back Bangabandhu’s self-confessed convicted killer Rashed Chowdhury and war crimes accused Ashrafuzzaman Khan.
The assurance came when State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam held a meeting with US Ambassador in Dhaka Marcia Bernicat at his office. Talking to reporters after the meeting, the State Minister said the government would complete procedures through maintaining diplomatic and legal process to bring them back.
Responding to a question, Shahriar said there
had been meetings of taskforce on the issue with important decisions. He, however, saw no importance to share those decisions with the media. On another killer of Bangabandhu Noor Chowdhury, the State Minister said they have taken up an impossible task to make possible as Bangladesh does not have extradition treaty with Canada and it does not hand over political asylum seekers.
Shahriar hoped that the government would be able to bring back one of the two convicted killers within the current tenure.
Earlier, Bangladesh requested Canada to send back the self-confessed and convicted killer of the Father of the Nation. Bangladesh several times requested Canada to extradite Noor Chowdhury, who was awarded death penalty in the trial of Bangabandhu murder case, but the request was turned down by Ottawa citing legal obligation.
According to the Canadian legal system, Ottawa cannot deport any foreign citizen who might face death penalty in his or her home country. The US Ambassador briefed the State Minister on GSP issue in details and reiterated her stance that there has been no politics behind non-inclusion of Bangladesh for GSP benefit.
She said the GSP benefit for Bangladesh has remained suspended and a fresh decision will be taken based on further review on progress in the RMG sector reform plan. Bernicat also said she would present the progress information to the US authorities as she has seen significant improvement in terms of safety and working environment.
The United States on Thursday assured Bangladesh of cooperation when Bangladesh sought its support in bringing back Bangabandhu’s self-confessed convicted killer Rashed Chowdhury and war crimes accused Ashrafuzzaman Khan.
The assurance came when State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam held a meeting with US Ambassador in Dhaka Marcia Bernicat at his office. Talking to reporters after the meeting, the State Minister said the government would complete procedures through maintaining diplomatic and legal process to bring them back.
Responding to a question, Shahriar said there
had been meetings of taskforce on the issue with important decisions. He, however, saw no importance to share those decisions with the media. On another killer of Bangabandhu Noor Chowdhury, the State Minister said they have taken up an impossible task to make possible as Bangladesh does not have extradition treaty with Canada and it does not hand over political asylum seekers.
Shahriar hoped that the government would be able to bring back one of the two convicted killers within the current tenure.
Earlier, Bangladesh requested Canada to send back the self-confessed and convicted killer of the Father of the Nation. Bangladesh several times requested Canada to extradite Noor Chowdhury, who was awarded death penalty in the trial of Bangabandhu murder case, but the request was turned down by Ottawa citing legal obligation.
According to the Canadian legal system, Ottawa cannot deport any foreign citizen who might face death penalty in his or her home country. The US Ambassador briefed the State Minister on GSP issue in details and reiterated her stance that there has been no politics behind non-inclusion of Bangladesh for GSP benefit.
She said the GSP benefit for Bangladesh has remained suspended and a fresh decision will be taken based on further review on progress in the RMG sector reform plan. Bernicat also said she would present the progress information to the US authorities as she has seen significant improvement in terms of safety and working environment.
They also discussed Rohingya issue.
