‘Nur Hossain deportation may need Indian court clearance’

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam says India will require consent of the court to deport Nur Hossain, the prime suspect in the Narayanganj seven-murder case, to Bangladesh.

He made the observation while speaking to reporters at his office on Wednesday.

Alam said New Delhi’s response was ‘positive’ to Bangladesh’e request for deporting Hossain, who fled to India days after the murders.

Hossain, who was arrested on June 15 from an apartment near Kolkata's airport for intrusion and carrying arms, is now lodged in a West Bengal prison.

Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, during her recent visit, assured Dhaka that her country would consider extradition of Hossain ‘with utmost importance’ if Bangladesh formally requested for it.

A judge of a Kolkata court, during hearing of Hossain’s case, said his deportation was under the purview of the government.

When asked if Bangladesh’s court had anything to do with Hossain’s extradition, Mahbubey Alam said courts of every state worked sovereignly.

“A court (of one country) cannot order courts of another country. It (deportation) takes place through diplomatic efforts all the time,” he said.

The top law officer of Bangladesh said: “From whatever I’ve heard and whatever I’ve read like you in newspapers, I think India has responded positively (to Bangladesh’s request).

He was also asked if the deportation was possible before the Hossain case was disposed of by the court.

“It’s possible if India gives importance to the murder incident in Bangladesh and ignores the crimes (he committed) in its soil,” he responded.

But, Alam said, the deportation would require judicial orders. In such a case, the court can stay or withdraw the trial, he added.

“I guess (the Indian government) cannot deport him during trial without court’s order. A court won’t order (the government) to send any accused to another country unless the government withdraws the case,” he added.

Nur Hossain is the suspected mastermind of abduction and murder of Narayanganj Ward-2 Councillor and Panel Mayor Nazrul Islam, lawyer Chandan Kumar Sarker and five others.

The seven were abducted on April 27 and their bodies were found three days later in the Shitalakhyya River.

RAB is accused of killing them taking money from Nur Hossain.

Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, during her recent visit, assured Dhaka that her country would consider extradition of Hossain ‘with utmost importance’ if Bangladesh formally requested for it.

A judge of a Kolkata court, during hearing of Hossain’s case, said his deportation was under the purview of the government.

When asked if Bangladesh’s court had anything to do with Hossain’s extradition, Mahbubey Alam said courts of every state worked sovereignly.

“A court (of one country) cannot order courts of another country. It (deportation) takes place through diplomatic efforts all the time,” he said.

The top law officer of Bangladesh said: “From whatever I’ve heard and whatever I’ve read like you in newspapers, I think India has responded positively (to Bangladesh’s request).

He was also asked if the deportation was possible before the Hossain case was disposed of by the court.

“It’s possible if India gives importance to the murder incident in Bangladesh and ignores the crimes (he committed) in its soil,” he responded.

But, Alam said, the deportation would require judicial orders. In such a case, the court can stay or withdraw the trial, he added.

“I guess (the Indian government) cannot deport him during trial without court’s order. A court won’t order (the government) to send any accused to another country unless the government withdraws the case,” he added.

Nur Hossain is the suspected mastermind of abduction and murder of Narayanganj Ward-2 Councillor and Panel Mayor Nazrul Islam, lawyer Chandan Kumar Sarker and five others.

The seven were abducted on April 27 and their bodies were found three days later in the Shitalakhyya River.

RAB is accused of killing them taking money from Nur Hossain.