'3 Killers of Bangabandhu Using Pakistani Passports'

The government has said that political and diplomatic efforts have been intensified to bring back the five fugitives of Bangabandhu. However, three of them used Pakistani passports, which led to complications.

Talking to Deutsche Welle, Waliur Rahman, the chief coordinator of the Bangabandhu murder case and former foreign secretary, said this while talking about the current status of Bangabandhu's killers. As the Prime Minister's Special Envoy, he has long worked to bring back the killers

"Five of the assassins of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman are still at large," he said. The government has a definite position of two of them. The other three are using Pakistani passports Pakistan is giving them shelter. As a result, the government cannot say even if it knows their position."  

Waliur Rahman also said that Interpol also knows their location "Everyone knows that AM Rashed Chowdhury is in the United States and NHMB Noor Chowdhury is in Canada," he said. The other three- Khandaker Abdur Rashid, Shariful Haque Dalim and Risaldar Moslemuddin- are now unknown. I have been working on them for a long time and I have seen that all three of them are using Pakistani passports. Of them, Rashid is in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, and Moslemuddin is in Benghazi, Libya. Gaddafi gave shelter to these murderers of Bangabandhu while he was alive The two regularly visit Pakistan and Benghazi. "

Where is Moslemuddin?

Four months ago, several Indian media outlets reported that Moslemuddin, the assassin of Bangabandhu, had been arrested by law enforcement in India. But Indian law enforcement has not confirmed the report.

Mohiul Islam, head of Interpol's Bangladesh branch office (NCB) and assistant sub-inspector general of police (AIG), told Deutsche Welle: "It is in the media that we learn about the arrest of Moslehuddin, the killer of Bangabandhu. We then wrote to the Indian NCB to be sure. But even in the last four months, we have not received any reply to that letter. Even a few days ago we sent another letter to Tagada. But he did not receive any reply to the letter. As a result, we are not sure if Moslemuddin has been arrested." 

Law Minister Anisul Haque told Deutsche Welle: "We have spoken to the Indian authorities to confirm that Moslemuddin has not been arrested."

The possibility of Rashed's return is increasing

The government was already sure about the position of AM Rashed Chowdhury in the United States. Various attempts are being made to bring him back Last June. US Attorney General William Barr suddenly summoned Rashed Chowdhury to seek political asylum in the United States. In this context, the concerned people think that the government's efforts to bring back Rashed Chowdhury are a kind of progress. Because Bangladesh has been trying for a long time to reactivate the case in the US government as well as in the political arena. 

U.S. Attorney General William Barr sent a letter to the Immigration Appeals Board on June 16. In the letter, he directed the Immigration Appeals Board to send documents related to Rashed Chowdhury by July 18. On June 25, a member of Rashed Chowdhury's legal team and on July 1, another immigration lawyer on behalf of a potential legal expert requested the attorney general to extend the time. Following their request, the U.S. Attorney General set a September 29 deadline for submission of documents. The government is hopeful of getting Rashed Chowdhury back through this process Law Minister Anisul Haque said the Bangladesh government was monitoring the matter.

Legal steps to bring back Nur Chowdhury

In addition to diplomatic and political contacts, the government has taken legal steps to bring back Nur Chowdhury, who is in Canada. This is because Canada has always been reluctant to inform Bangladesh about Nur Chowdhury's latest situation, considering the protection of personal law. In this situation, Bangladesh filed a case in the Central Court of Canada in March 2018 to reconsider the issue of not providing information about the murderer who was sentenced to death. Judge James O'Reilly on September 18 last year asked the Canadian government to reconsider its decision not to provide information to Bangladesh about Nur Chowdhury. However, so far the country has not given any information about Nur Chowdhury

Asked about this, Law Minister Anisul Haque said that in Canada, where there is a law that provides for the death penalty, they do not send anyone back. We are doing our best to bring him back We have also filed a case as part of the process of returning Nur Chowdhury We are waiting for the answer there.

The death penalty of 12 people, effective six

The verdict of the lower court in the Bangabandhu murder case was given on November 8, 1998 The then Dhaka Sessions Judge Kazi Golam Rasul sentenced 15 people to death Later, the high court upheld the death sentence of 12 accused On the night of January 27, 2010, murderers Syed Faruk Rahman, Bazlul Huda, AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed, Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan and Muhiuddin Ahmed were executed. Another killer, Aziz Pasha, died in Zimbabwe in June 2001.

Abdul Majeed, one of the fugitive killers, was arrested late at night on April 6 in the capital's Gabtoli area, Dhaka Metropolitan Police said. Then on the night of April 11, he was hanged in Dhaka Central Jail

According to Indian media reports, Majed has been living in Kolkata, India for 24 years, hiding his name and identity for a long time.

Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader said political and diplomatic efforts have been intensified to bring back the killers convicted of killing Bangabandhu. He made the remarks after paying homage at the August 15 Martyrs' Cemetery in the capital's Banani on Saturday morning.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina first paid homage to the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi No. 32 on Saturday morning. Later in the morning, Awami League general secretary paid homage to the leaders and workers on behalf of the party After that, various organizations and leaders paid their respects. 

(Photo: Collected)

Source: DW