Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has sought his Canadian counterpart’s support for returning Bangabandhu's killer Noor Chowdhury to execute the court verdict in Bangladesh.
He raised the issue in a telephone talk with his counterpart François-Philippe Champagne on Wednesday evening, the foreign ministry said on Thursday.
Dr Momen said it will be a “big achievement” for the people of Bangladesh if the killer of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is brought back to Bangladesh and the verdict is executed in the year of Bangabandhu's birth centenary.
Bangladesh is celebrating the birth centenary of Bangabandhu from March 17 this year to March 17, 2021.
Bangabandhu was killed on August 15 in 1975 along with most of his family members by a cabal of military men.
His daughters – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana – survived as they were abroad at that time.
On November 19, 2009, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court upheld the death penalty of 12 convicted former army officials for the assassination.
Five of them – Syed Farooq Rahman, Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, Bazlul Huda, AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed and Mohiuddin Ahmed – were hanged in January 2010. Another convicted killer capt (dismissed) Abdul Majed was hanged on April 12.
Another killer Aziz Pasha met natural death in Zimbabwe in 2001.
The fugitive killers are former Lt Col Khandaker Abdur Rashid, SHBM Noor Chowdhury, Shariful Haque Dalim, Rashed Chowdhury, and Risaldar Moslehuddin.
Noor Chowdhury has been living in Canada while Rashed Chowdhury in the US.
Canada maintained that it cannot send back anyone why faces death penalty at home. Bangladesh took the issue to the Canadian court.
The foreign ministry did not say anything about the Canadian minister’s reply during the phone conversation.
Champagne reiterated Canada’s support to Bangladesh in responding to the health and economic implications of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Canadian Minister proposed to form an “alliance” to face the post-COVID-19 challenges.
They also discussed the Rohingyas issue.
The Canadian Foreign Minister said they kept their discussion on Rohingya issue open with various countries.
He appreciated Bangladesh's humanitarian gesture and generosity in giving shelter to Rohingyas.
He also thanked Dr Momen for extending cooperation and help for Canadian citizens’ return from Bangladesh through chartered flights during the pandemic.
