The government is not aware of any visit by any Indian delegation to Bangladesh regarding the repatriation issue of Anup Chetia, leader of the United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa), Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir has said.
“We are unaware of any visit by any Indian delegation for accelerating the issue of repatriation of Anup Chetia. The government is yet to move with the issue. If there is any move or progress on this issue, we will inform the media about it,” the minister told reporters after a meeting of cabinet committee on law and order situation.
Anup Chetia, the founder general secretary of Ulfa, has been staying in a cell of the Rajshahi Central Jail since he was arrested at Dhaka in 1997 for illegal entrance and stay. He has also sought political asylum three times, but has been turned down every time by the Bangladesh government. India has been trying to take Chetia back and pushing Bangladesh for his deportation.
The Ulfa leader has recently petitioned the Bangladesh government for sending him to India and cancel his prayers for political asylum.
Wednesday’s cabinet committee meeting, chaired by the home minister, was also attended by Law Minister Shafique Ahmed, Labour Minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju, Post and Telecommunication Minister Sahara Khatun and State Minister for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku, Senior Secretary of the Home Ministry CQK Mustaq Ahmed and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Hassan Mahmud Khendkar.
After the meeting, MK Alamagir told reporters that they had discussed how to control law and order during Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr.
“We have given some directives to the law enforcement agencies to ensure security of the people and their assets. If the directives are followed, it will be possible to ensure tight security during this period,” the minister said.
The meeting also discussed the cases relating to repression of women, speedy disposal of under trial cases, speedy disposal of garments workers’ leader Aminul Islam killing case and withdrawal of cases against garments workers’ leader Kalpona Aktar and Babul Aktar.
“The number of pending cases regarding repression of women has declined due to some initiatives taken by the government. Compared to the eight years from 2001-08, incidents of acid throwing have also come down,” Alamgir said.
Citing the steps the government has taken to dispose of the Aminul killing case, Alamgir said, “The government has announced a reward of Tk100,000 for informer Mustafiz who is a fugitive suspect of the Aminul killing case.”
The government has also taken steps to withdraw six cases against Kalpona Aktar and Babul Aktar which were related to the killing of Aminul.
Regarding the law and order situation after the tribunal verdicts against Jamaat leaders Ghulam Aazm and Mojaheed, the minister said: “We think the law and order situation of the country is now satisfactory. But, it is true that some partite incidents are happening in the country surrounding the verdicts against war criminals. Members of law enforcement agencies have controlled the situation with iron hands.”
