Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday criticised the United States and Canada for giving shelter to the killers of Bangabandhu instead of handing them over to Bangladesh on various excuses.
"It’s a shame for those countries while (it is) unfortunate for us," he told reporters referring to the failure of the US and Canada to return the convicted killers of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Momen said their words do not match with their actions as they remain vocal on human rights issues.
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He said the killers are roaming around freely in those countries which are "so sad" and very "disappointing" to see.
The Foreign Minister made the remarks after a tree-planting ceremony to mark the martyrdom of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangamata Sheikh Fajilatunnesa Mujib and their other family members in the month August.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen also took part at the event in Foreign Service Academy, Dhaka.
Momen said Canada did not return Noor Chowdhury as they do not handover individuals to those countries where death penalty is awarded.
"On return, he has the scope to seek (Presidential) mercy," he said noting that Canada has not even confirmed his citizenship status.
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Regarding killer Rashed Chowdhury, Momen said the US government never said that they would not send him back. “We sent the details of the trial process."
They planted the samplings in the Foreign Service Academy as it was the first office of Bangabandhu after the birth of Bangladesh.
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The old building has been converted into a museum.
The special tree planting was part of paying respect to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members.
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