No cooperation from countries sheltering Bangabandhu killers: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today alleged that the government is not getting cooperation from the US, Canada and Pakistan governments to bring back Bangabandhu’s killers, now living in those countries.

"For any reason, we are not getting cooperation from the governments of these countries…this is the reality," she said.

Sheikh Hasina came up with the remarks while responding to a supplementary question from Abdus Shahid during the PM's question-answer session in the parliament today.

The premier, however, hoped that someday her government will be able to bring those absconding killers back and execute the court verdict.

She said one killer was in Bangkok and the court verdict against him was executed after bringing him back in cooperation of the Thai government.

About the absconding killers of Bangabandhu, she said two are now living in the USA, one in Canada, two in Pakistan and the whereabouts of two others are still unknown.

During the 1996 government, she said, the Awami League formed a committee and appointed lawyers.

"Even lawyers were appointed in the USA and tried in different ways in Canada to bring the killers back," Hasina added.

But, she said, it is very much regretful that these two countries, despite being the developed and civilised one, are giving shelter to these killers. "I don't know why this is happening," she added.

Hasina said a request was sent to the governments of these countries to send back the killers. "We’re trying to bring these killers back through a legal process and the effort is still on."

The prime minister hoped that these countries will allow the government to bring the killers back in Bangladesh.

She mentioned that a warrant was also issued by the Interpol. "The law ministry, the home ministry and the foreign ministry are also jointly trying to do the same," she said.

Recalling the conceited declaration of the killers that no one will ever be able to put them under trial, she said her government has completed the trial. "This is unique in the world that this type of killing was tried in normal court, even I didn’t take the advantage being the prime minister to transfer the trial to a special court. This trial was held under the general law so that no one could say I’ve taken any advantage," she said.

About the two killers living in Pakistan, Hasina said Pakistan government does not admit that the two killers are there in their country.

"Zillur Rahman who presents Tritio Matra of ‘Channel i’ said he interviewed Col Rashid, which means he knows where the killer Rashid is staying… it’s understandable that killer Rashid was in Libya, but now staying in Pakistan. Dalim is also there in Pakistan, but we are not getting any cooperation from the Pakistan government to locate them."

She said the people of the country should know these facts.

The premier also sought cooperation and blessings from the people of the country so that the government could bring the killers back and execute the court verdict.