Bangladesh
Shahriar Alam Shahriar calls on US to hand over convicted murderer of Bangabandhu
Dhaka, August 18: State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam, showing respect for the laws of Bangladesh, has called on the United States to hand over Rashed Chowdhury, the self-confessed murderer of Bangabandhu, who has been sentenced to death.
He said, "We do not know exactly why, on whose orders and for what purpose they (US) are not returning him (Rashed Chowdhury)."
He said this at a protest rally organized by Bangladesh Awami Swachhasebak League on the 18th anniversary of serial bombings in 63 districts of the country by militant organization JMB on August 17, 2005.
The State Minister said that the United States is very vocal on the issue of human rights and democracy and Bangladesh considers the United States as a friendly country, but if the United States shelters the murderer of the father of the nation, it hurts and disappoints Bangladeshis. The government has learned that two of Bangabandhu's convicted fugitive murderers - Rashed Chowdhury and Noor Chowdhury - are staying in the US and Canada respectively. Besides, three other fugitives - Khandaker Abdur Rashid, Shariful Haque Dalim and Moslehuddin Khan - are yet to be traced.
Earlier, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said, "Bangabandhu's killers are still on the run." We know of two, one in the US and one in Canada. The whereabouts of the other three fugitives are not yet known. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Law are in close contact with the US and Canadian authorities to trace the whereabouts of the two fugitives."
Momen said the Ministry of External Affairs has written to all foreign missions as part of the operation to nab the fugitive killers. A total of 12 dismissed military officers were sentenced to death after a lengthy trial. Six were executed and one died abroad. Three of the six executed killers were extradited from three countries - Thailand, the US and India - after being tried in absentia.
