Bangladesh will formally raise next week with the Canadian government the issue of extradition of Major (retd) Noor Chowdhury, a convict in the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman murder case.
Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque on Tuesday said that he would raise the extradition issue of the self-confessed assassin of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in a military putsch in August 1975.
The convict is now living in Toronto, Canada and fighting an uphill task with the Canadian immigration from being deported from Canada after his third appeal for "refugee status" (political asylum) was refused. Meanwhile, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam on Wednesday requested the Canadian government to send back Noor Chowdhury.
The convicted assassin and other fugitives in the murder case are also included in the red list of the InterPol.
Alam made the plea when newly appointed Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Benoit-Pierre Laramee paid a courtesy call on him at his office, a Foreign Ministry official said.
Earlier, Bangladesh had several times requested Canada to extradite Noor Chowdhury, who was awarded death penalty in the trial of Bangabandhu Murder Case, but the request was several times turned down by the Canadian authorities citing legal obligations. According to the Canadian legal system, Ottawa cannot deport any foreign citizen who might face death penalty in his or her home country.
During the meeting, the Canadian envoy and the state minister discussed various bilateral and development issues and Canadian support to women empowerment, health and education for overall development of Bangladesh.