Government has started initiative to bring back two assassins of Bangabandhu, says Obaidul Quader

The government has started an initiative to bring back two assassins of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, says Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader.

It has filed two separate cases in the US and Canada courts to repatriate M Rashed Chowdhury and Noor Chowdhury, the Awami League general secretary said during an event at the Dhaka University campus on Monday.

“The government has intensified its efforts to bring back the six assassins now absconding. Rashed Chowdhury is in the US and negotiations are ongoing on to repatriate him; the US government is helping us,” said Quader.

“The government has filed a case in Canada to reconsider the Canadian law preventing capital punishment and repatriate Noor Chowdhury. Discussion between both governments are ongoing,” he said.

Four years after Bangladesh's independence, the Father of the Nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members were brutally killed on Aug 15, 1975 by renegade army officers.

His daughters Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana survived because they were abroad at the time.

Of the 12 convicts, five were hanged on Jan 28, 2010, one died of natural causes and six more are absconding.

The six convicts still at large are Abdur Rashid, Shariful Haque Dalim, M Rashed Chowdhury, SHMB Noor Chowdhury, Abdul Majed and Risaldar Moslemuddin. Interpol has issued a red notice against them.

The National Central Bureau or NCB, the Bangladesh division of Interpol confirmed that Noor Chowdhury is currently residing in Canada, while M Rashed Chowdhury is in the US.

Obaidul Quader spoke at the inaugural ceremony of the online petition to the prime minister of Canada to repatriate Noor Chowdhury. Cultural and social organisation Gourab 71, Canada Awami League, All Overseas Bangladeshi and Movement for Deportation of Killer Noor Chowdhury to Bangladesh jointly initiated the online petition.

“The BNP has never answered my questions regarding who had been involved in Bangabandhu’s assassination. Why was the indemnity ordinance necessary to stop the trial of those killers? I’m repeating my questions again,” Quader said in the event.

Canada, being a civilised country cannot become a refuge to the self-proclaimed killer, said former foreign minister Dr Dipu Moni.

“The assassin, along with his accomplices, killed the founding father of the country, along with 18 of his family including his wife and 10-year-old son Sheikh Russel. The killer has been living free for the past 43 years.”

She urged the Canadian government to repatriate Noor Chowdhury so the self-proclaimed convicted killer can be hanged, which would ensure the Canadian government’s commitment to uphold the rule of law and human rights.

“I also urge the Canadian government not to allow him to live a normal life. A self-proclaimed convicted killer should be in jail,” said Dr Dipu Moni.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, Jagannath University Vice-Chancellor Prof Mizanur Rahman, Central Chhatra League President  Rezwanul Haque Chowdhury Shovon, general secretary Golam Rabbani and general secretary of Chhatra League DU wing Saddam Hossain were also present at the event.