Dhaka: India and Bangladesh on Monday signed a liberalised visa agreement and a landmark extradition treaty that would pave the way for the deportation of jailed ULFA ‘general secretary’ Anup Chetia and other wanted “criminals”.
Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde signed the agreement with his Bangladeshi counterpart Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir at the end of their bilateral talks, which also yielded a “revised travel arrangement” under which New Delhi as well as Dhaka eased their visa regimes under several categories.
“These contracts will enhance ties in areas of security… and people to people contacts,” Shinde told a joint press conference after signing the deals here.
The extradition deal was inked hours after Bangladesh cabinet approved its draft a week after the Indian cabinet took the identical decision clearing the inking of the pact. Officials said the treaty would not be applied for the persons accused with the offenses of political character.
Under the provisions of the agreement, only persons charged with murders, culpable homicide and other serious offenses would come under the purview of the deal.
However, offenders of small crimes awarded with imprisonment for less than one year will not be covered d under the treaty.
Asked for the names of the wanted people likely to be extradited under the just signed deal, Shinde said the list should not be made public for procedural reasons.
He said New Delhi would extend its maximum cooperation in tracking down and handing over the fugitive convicts of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman murder trial, believed to be hiding in India.
Alamgir, however, said the deal would benefit Bangladesh more as the number of convicted or suspected criminals hiding or staying in India was more than that of Indian criminals lodged in jails or hiding in Bangladesh.
Alamgir last month told reporters in Delhi that “Bangladesh will keep its pledge (but) the matter is now pending before a court” when asked if Dhaka would return jailed Indian separatist ULFA leader Anup Chetia. (PTI)
