Bangladesh
PK Halder Arrest Arrest of PK Haldar was on the basis of information from Bangladesh: Indian High Commissioner Doraiswami
Dhaka, May 18: Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram K Doraiswami has said that Bangladeshi fugitive businessman Prashanta Kumar Haldar alias PK Haldar has been detained in India's West Bengal on the basis of information provided by the Bangladesh authorities.
After a meeting with Foreign Secretary Masood bin Momen at the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday, he told the media that your (Bangladesh) government had exchanged information with Indian agencies. The agencies checked the information to arrest Haldar.
The High Commissioner said Haldar's arrest was part of normal co-operation between the two governments. Bangladesh and India have mutual legal assistance agreements. He said now the legal process has to be followed. "It's a process, nothing special. India and Bangladesh are ready to cooperate against organized crime."
Asked when Haldar could be extradited, Doraiswamy said it was a legal process, adding that "it is not like exchanging Christmas greetings cards. Let it happen slowly."
The High Commissioner said New Delhi was working with Dhaka on the issue and information about Haldar came from Bangladesh.
Masood later told the media that Dhaka was expecting all kinds of cooperation from India to bring PK Haldar back to face trial. "In our meeting too, I raised the issue of PK Haldar," he said. "He (Indian High Commissioner) assured me of his full cooperation in this matter."
The foreign secretary said Haldar would be sent back after completing the ongoing legal process in India. He added that there was no reason not to send him back. He said Dhaka would request Haldar's return through diplomatic channels, adding that the home ministry had an important role to play in this regard.
"We are all in the same position because we will not spare any criminal," Masood said. "There is an extradition treaty between Bangladesh and India in exchange for fugitive criminals."
Earlier on Monday, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said that PK Haldar would be brought back following the existing process between Bangladesh and India. He said Dhaka would do whatever it takes to bring Haldar to justice. However, he added that the process of bringing him back would not be a challenge as Dhaka and New Delhi are currently enjoying a "golden chapter" in their bilateral relations.
Five people, including PK Haldar, were arrested from Ashoknagar in West Bengal, India, on Saturday morning.
