US asked to extradite Bangabandhu killer

Bangladesh on Wednesday urged the United States to send back fugitive Rashed Chowdhury who was sentenced to death by a Dhaka court for assassinating independence leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Bangladesh's ambassador to Washington Akramul Qader requested US homeland security committee chairman Peter King to take necessary steps for the man's extradition.

Currently there is no extradition treaty between Bangladesh and the United States but officials say the law allows the US government to send a convict through bilateral arrangement.

Republican congressman Peter King is a member of the US House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and co-chairman of Congressional Bangladesh Caucus.

Bangladesh embassy's press minister Swapan Saha told bdnews24.com: "The ambassador informed the Congress Committee that Bangladesh's highest court has sentenced Bangabandhu's killer Rashed Chowdhury to capital punishment. Chowdhury is currently staying in the United States."

"Rashed Chowdhury might have hidden information during US immigration. He can be expelled from United States and handed over to Bangladesh in line with US law," he added.

Saha said King had given his assurance to provide necessary assistance after holding talks with the US Department of State.

On Aug 15, 1975, a group of rogue military officers attacked the residence of then the Bangladesh president Sheikh Mujib, killing him and most of his family members.

The Supreme Court sentenced 12 people to death for their role in the assassination. Five of the accused - Syed Faruk Rahman, Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, Muhiuddin Ahmed (artillery) Bazlul Huda and A K M Mohiuddin (lancer) - were hanged on Jan 28 last year.

The foreign ministry says it has information that Rashed Chowdhury is currently residing in Los Angeles and Nur Chowdhury in Toronto, Canada.

It had sent letters to both the countries last October but Canada refused to turn in Nur Chowdhury. Last year, foreign minister Dipu Moni held talks with US secretary of state Hillary Clinton to bring Rashed Chowdhury back.

Convicts Abdur Rashid, Shariful Haque Dalim, Moshlemuddin and Abdul Majed have are facing arrest warrants by Interpol.

Another killer Abdul Aziz Pasha died in Zimbabwe.