The cabinet on Monday approved a proposal for ratifying an extradition treaty with India, paving Bangladesh’s way for requesting its neighbour to send back a few killers of Bangabandhu believed to be there.
The treaty will enable the two countries to request extradition of “criminals” detained in each other’s jails.
“According to the treaty, the two countries will be able to exchange criminals or prisoners convicted for over a year as per each other’s request,” said Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan after the cabinet meeting that approved the ratifying proposal.
“However, anyone having political involvement will not come under the treaty,” he told reporters at a briefing.
“Also, the countries will have the authority to deny any request,” he added.
The home ministers of Bangladesh and India signed the treaty last January, but it has to be ratified in the cabinet of the two countries before it comes into effect.
The Indian parliament has already ratified the treaty.
“After ratifying the treaty in parliament, it will be effective soon as the Indian cabinet has already ratified it,” Mosharraf Hossain said.
Kamal Uddin Ahmed, additional secretary of the political wing of the home ministry, last night told the Dhaka Tribune that once ratified in Bangladesh parliament, the two countries would exchange the ratification documents to make the treaty effective.
Asked about the issue of Anup Chetia, a leader of United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa), Cabinet Secretary Mosharraf Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune that after the treaty came into effect, any of the two countries could request extradition of any of its citizens detained in the other country.
“But, the host country will finally decide on extradition of a person.”
