‘Chetia’s return to India reflects close ties’

Bangladesh handing over to India top ULFA leader Anup Chetia was a reflection of close bilateral ties particularly in security areas, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said here on Thursday as he hoped New Delhi will return a wanted Bangladeshi national jailed in West Bengal.

“It was an appropriate step on our part and we are ready to cooperate with India like this in future also in our common interest,” Kamal told PTI after Dhaka handed over Chetia to Indian authorities.

The return of the 48-year-old fugitive top separatist leader who was lodged in Bangladeshi jails for over 18 years came days after deportation of Mumbai underworld don Chhota Rajan from Indonesia and was kept secret until he reached India crossing at the northeastern Sylhet borders along with two associates who were lodged in Bangladeshi jail as well. Asked if Dhaka expected any favour in return from Delhi after the resolution of the long-pending issue, the Minister said “we are seeking nothing in return as it was done as part of our mutual friendship and cooperation particularly in security areas”.

However, local media reports on Thursday quoted him as saying that a wanted mastermind of seven murders, Nur Hossain, who is now lodged in a West Bengal prison, would be returned to face justice much the same way Chetia was returned to India.

Approached for comments, Kamal - who had initially declined having any knowledge about Chetia’s return but later confirmed it - said: “We’ll receive him (Hossain) at the border just the way we left Anup Chetia there.” 

The minister, however, said Chetia’s case should not be compared with that of Hossain and “we are not seeking to get (Hossain) back in return... it is not an issue of exchange”.