HPM Sheikh Hasina calls upon expat Bangladeshis to mobilize public opinion to extradite Bangabandhu's killers

"How a civilised country could give shelter to a convicted killer," the prime minister wondered as she was addressing a reception accorded to her at Centre Mont-Royal here last night by expatriate Bangladesh nationals.

The premier added: "I am leaving a demand before you to write letters to pubic representatives of those countries where you are residing and asked . . . why those countries would give shelter to the killers of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman."

Canada unit president of Awami League Golam Mohammad Mahmud Mia presided over the function, while General Secretary Azizur Rahman Prince conducted the function.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque and AL's Office Secretary and PM's Special Assistant Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap were present on the dais.

"So far we know that one convicted killer of Bangabandhu is hiding in the USA, one in Canada, two in Pakistan while two others are traceless . . . we are hunting them down," Sheikh Hasina said.

The prime minister said Bangladesh government asked the US and Canada that why they are nurturing and giving shelter to the killers.

She said it has been mentioned in the Canadian constitution that the country won't deport anybody if death sentence order is given against him or her. "What type of provision it is," she wondered.

Sheikh Hasina said she is a victim as she has lost her parents. The killers of Bangabandhu are the citizens of Bangladesh and their punishment would be done as per the existing law of the country. "Why efforts are being made to save the killers," she said.

"Why the countries would give shelter to those who committed crimes like murder. It could be a different matter if the killers are their citizens. If they want to give shelter to the killers, then all murderers would seek shelter to those countries," she said.

The premier said it means that the countries where the capital punishment do not exist would be a safe haven for killers. "So I am leaving this question before the expatriate Bangladeshis to create a public opinion in this regard," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has been working to bring back the fugitive killers since 1996. "Our efforts would continue to execute the court verdict against the killers by bringing them back home," she said.

While talking about the trials of war criminals, Sheikh Hasina said the government faced obstructions and she received many telephone calls from big places during the trials and execution of verdicts against the culprits who killed three million people and violated two lakh mothers and sisters during the War of Liberation.

"I replied to them that our judiciary is independent, and there are laws in our country and verdicts would be implemented as per the laws," she said.

Sheikh Hasina also urged the expatriate Bangladeshis to remain alert so that their children cannot get engaged in militancy, saying that it's not expected to anybody that they (children) would work like a "jallad" (hangman).

"I would like to tell you to stay alert about your children and keep an eye on what they do, where they go and with whom they get close ... it's a responsibility of everybody - guardians, teachers and imams - to maintain contact with all in this regard," she said.

"It's not expected to anybody that the children of well-off families who pursue study in English medium schools and reputed universities would work like a "jallad", the PM added.

Referring to the cowardly militant attack on Holey Artisan Bakery at Gulshan in Dhaka, Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League chief, said how heinously the human beings were killed by the militants in the Gulshan cafe on July 1.

"It's unimaginable that a sound man could kill a human being in such a way," she said.

The prime minister said those who carried out the Gulshan attack studied at Canada, Malaysia, Australia and other places.

"All expect that those who pursue study abroad would be liberal minded. But question arises in public mind that how they get engaged in fanaticism undermining Islam," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said Islam is the religion of peace, but in the name of Islam some elements are maligning Islam. "Allah is the final judge and Allah does not give that responsibility to anybody," she said.

The prime minister said the Gulshan cafe attack was carried out when her government was taking the country towards development by curbing militancy. "It's unfortunate that this incident had halted our all strides," she said.

She said some incidents happened across the world in recent time. However, Bangladesh was exception from it. "But the Gulshan attack halted our efforts for development as well as investment to some extent," she said.

The prime minister said what the entire world could not do, Bangladesh was able to do it. "We have contained the terrorists within 10 hours and rescued 13 hostages alive," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the intensified anti-militancy clampdown by her government yielded results as those who planned to carry out further attacks were arrested.

"We are taking tough actions and it would continue ... the law enforcement agencies have been working with utmost sincerity and integrity to this end," she said.

The prime minister said terrorism and militancy are not a problem for any particular country, it's now a global problem. "Bangladesh has been a victim of terrorism since the assassination of Bangabandhu in 1975."

She said Bangla Bhai staged procession with firearms under police protection in Rajshahi and the country had to witness such a scenario during the BNP-Jamaat rule.

"The August 21 grenade attack was made on me, while Shah AMS Kibria and Ahsanullah Master were killed and British High Commissioner Anwar Chowdhury escaped a grenade attack during the misrule of BNP-Jamaat," she said.

She said BNP patronized the terrorists and created militancy and there is no doubt about the involvement BNP-Jamaat in it.

Reiterating her determination to build Bangladesh as a higher middle income country by 2021 and developed one by 2041, Sheikh Hasina called upon the expatriate Bangladeshis to invest in special economic zones.