Bangladesh and India exchanged document of extradition treaty on Wednesday, eight months after the two countries signed the landmark agreement for deportation of cross-border criminals. This also clears the way of deportation of general secretary of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), Anup Chetia, and other members of the organization. Chetia and many of his associates are in Bangladesh jail. The extradition treaty was signed on January 28 this year.
Senior secretary of the home ministry CQM Mustaq Ahmed and the Indian high commissioner to Dhaka Pankaj Saran exchanged the document at a function, held at the ministry, to facilitate handover of criminals between the two countries. Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, who was present on the occasion, however, said the deportation of Anup Chetiya is under the jurisdiction of higher court. “We will take necessary steps in time after getting decision from the court,” he said. The ULFA leader filed a writ petition before the court seeking political asylum in Bangladesh and the matter is now under the jurisdiction of the Bangladesh Supreme Court. Replying to a question, the home minister said that the Indian government had assured that it would help Bangladesh bring back all the criminals, including the two killers of Bangabadhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman — Capt. (dismissed) Mazed and Risalder (dismissed) Muslehuddin — from India.
Chetia was first arrested in March 1991 in Assam, but was subsequently released by the then state chief minister, Hiteswar Saikia. He was arrested again in Dhaka on December 21, 1997 on charges of violating the Foreigners Act and the Passports Act of the country. Two of Chetia’s associates, identified as Babul Sharma and Laxmi Prasad, were also arrested along with him.
-With The Independent input
