Kamal says he did not discuss ‘list of 5 terrorists’ with Indian officials

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has dismissed India media reports that he had discussed the ‘repatriation of five suspected terrorists who have fled to India’.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 31 July 2016, 06:41 PM
Updated : 31 July 2016, 06:41 PM

After returning to Dhaka, he told reporters at his office on Sunday that he did not have specific sdiscussion on the matter with any Indian official.

‘The Times of India’ reported that Bangladeshi intelligence agents suspect that five of the youths, listed by law-enforcing agencies as missing and suspected to have joined militancy, have been hiding in India.

In the report published on Friday, the newspaper said Kamal discussed repatriation of the five with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh.

“This issue was not discussed. The discussion was on everything, the basic problems we have,” he said.

Referring to the signing of the amendments to an extradition treaty, Kamal said, “We’ve discussed the problems in sending or taking back those militants or criminals.”

‘The Times of India’ said Bangladesh had handed a list of the five suspected terrorists to India.

Of them, Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury from Sylhet is also a citizen of Canada while Saifullah Ojaki from Brahmanbarhia has Japanese passport. They are missing in those countries.

ATM Tajuddin from Lakshmipur is an expatriate in Australia while Nazibullah Ansari from Chanpainawabganj is missing from Malaysia.

Junnun Shikder from Dhaka is accused along with banned radical outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team chief Jasimuddin Rahmani in a case under the Anti Terrorism Act.  

About the list, Kamal said, “Fugitive militants or criminals, whatever you say, we always provide this (list) and they (India) also send theirs.”

He said a list has been handed over to India to get Bangladeshi suspects or convicts back under the extradition treaty.

He said India has promised quick steps on the matter and reassured Bangladesh of help to fight militancy.

Asked how many persons have been named on the list, the minister said, “I can’t remember the figure right now.”

He also said Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had praised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s leadership in countering terrorism.

The home minister said he had also urged his Indian counterpart Singh to bring killings along the border down to zero.