Canada agrees to discuss extradition of Bangabandhu's killer

After years of refusal, Canada has agreed to hold talks with Bangladesh on the extradition of the country's most wanted fugitive -- Noor Chowdhury, accused of firing the bullet that killed Bangladesh's founder 'Bangabandhu' Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

This was decided during a bilateral meeting between Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau at Hyatt Regency Montreal in Canada on Friday, the Daily Star reported on Saturday.

Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Huq told the media that the two leaders would discuss a way out to extradite Toronto resident Noor, who is in his 70s.

"The aim of the discussion would be to bring Noor Chowdhury to justice and execute the verdict of the Bangabandhu killing case," he said.

In 2011, the then Canadian envoy to Dhaka had sparked a controversy when he said that Canada can't extradite Noor as he could face the death penalty in his home country.

Noor, a former Bangladeshi military officer, was convicted in absentia in the August 1975 killing of Bangladesh's first president, Sheik Mujibur Rahman.

Both leaders also discussed other issues like boosting trade and investment and export of garment products.

The Bangladesh government has long been engaged with the US and Canada to bring back several killers of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Twelve persons were found guilty of his murder and five among them were hanged until death. While another one, Aziz Pasha, had a natural death in Zimbabwe.

Five killers - Khandkar Abdur Rashid, Shariful Haque Dalim, Noor Chowdhury, Moslehuddin Khan, Abdul Mazed and M Rashed Chowdhury have been absconding.

Of them, Noor Chowdhury who is in Canada, was denied political asylum there but Ottawa refused to send him back due to complexity over the death penalty.

It is believe by the Bangladesh government that another accused, Moslehuddin Khan, has been hiding in the US.

Hasina invited Trudeau to visit Bangladesh and the Canadian premier accepted the invitation, Huq said.

Trudeau also recalled his visit to Bangladesh along with his father Pierre Elliott Trudeau, the then Canadian Prime Minister, at the age of 12.

Trudeau told Hasina that he would visit Bangladesh soon as he has some hazy memories about his visit to Bangladesh that took place in 1983.

--IANS

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