No Mujib killer in Indian jail: Envoy

DHAKA - None of those convicted for murdering Bangladesh’s founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is in Indian jails, India’s outgoing envoy has said.

Ahead of summit level talks due to take place in New Delhi next month, High Commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty dismissed as speculation media reports saying none of the killers would be comfortable hiding in India.

In an interview with The Daily Star published Sunday, he pointed out that given the cordial bilateral relations, India would certainly not entertain the Mujib killers.

“I think that is simply speculated report. Let me say in principle if such people are found in India, there should be no second thoughts.

“We will certainly help in handing them over. I think they are in other countries,” he said.

Five of 12 former Bangladesh Army officers convicted for killing Mujib Rahman and his family members in August 1975 are said to be in Libya, the US, Canada and Pakistan.

On two Bangladeshis in New Delhi’s Tihar jail, the envoy said he could confirm that the two people are brothers and were involved in the August 2004 grenade attack on an Awami League rally.

“I think they are members of HuJI (Harkat-ul-Jihad Islami). Hence they are in our custody, in our jail facing a case that has been lodged against them. It was only discovered later that they were also involved here (in Bangladesh).”

He said the Bangladesh government is aware of this.

“There is a judicial process … in India. We will have to see how we can work this out. But I think there is no hesitation in the government of India (that) if Bangladesh would want them back to prosecute them for the crimes they committed here or alleged to have committed. We will certainly hand them over if necessary.”