Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said that there are some legal complications to bringing BNP acting chairperson Tarique Rahman, who has been convicted in multiple cases including the August 21 grenade attack, back to Bangladesh.
“Strong diplomatic and legal activities are going on simultaneously to bring back Tarique Rahman, who has been staying in the UK, to the country,” she said.
The prime minister was responding to a tabled question from Awami League MP Farida Yasmin (reserved seat) in parliament during the prime minister's question-answer session, UNB reported.
However, the prime minister said the government is determined to resolve all complications in the legal process and bring the convicted Tarique Rahman back to the country and have him face the punishment he deserves.
“Hopefully, we will be able to see the results of this process soon,” she said.
“The relevant departments of the government, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are working in maintaining close communication with the UK government,” she said.
Stating that 15 accused, including Tarique Rahman alias Tarique Rahman, are currently absconding in the August 21 grenade attack cases, the leader of the House said that efforts to arrest the absconding accused are continuing.
She said that an Interpol red notice has been issued against the absconding accused Maulana Tajuddin, Md Harish Chaudhary and Ratul Ahmed Babu alias Ratul Babu.
“At the same time, efforts are being made to bring back the fugitive accused through discussions with the countries where they are staying. Various steps are being taken in this regard from the higher levels of the government.”
Sheikh Hasina said that she herself has sent several letters to the heads of state and government of the countries concerned at different times, seeking their cooperation in bringing the murderers back to the country.
She also sought their personal cooperation in her meetings with them at various international forums.
The prime minister said that due to the legal complexities regarding the whereabouts of the killers in the respective countries, there has been no expected progress in this regard.
In order to bring the murderers back to the country, measures are being taken according to the laws of the countries concerned together with an exercise of diplomacy by the Bangladesh government, she said.
In this regard, the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Law and Home Affairs and other related institutions are working in coordination with one another.
She said that among the fugitive assassins of Bangabandhu, Noor Chowdhury and his family are in Canada, Abdur Rashid and Shariful Haq Dalim are in Pakistan or Libya, Rashed Chowdhury is in America and Risaldar Moslem Uddin is in India.
In addition, another assassin, Aziz Pasha, is said to have died in Zimbabwe.Sheikh Hasina also said that of the 12 accused who were condemned to death over Bangabandhu's murder, six have been executed.
