DHAKA, 1 April 2004 — Foreign Minister M. Morshed Khan said yesterday that Bangladesh had not initiated talks on signing of any extradition treaty with India.
In reply to queries from reporters at the Foreign Ministry in Dhaka, Khan categorically said that Bangladesh would never allow use of its soil for any terrorist activities against any country.
“We have never given shelter to any terrorist group in the past and will not do so in future,” he said, adding that Bangladesh had requested India not to support any anti-Bangladesh organization nor give refuse to any criminal wanted by Bangladesh.
Referring to his meeting with Indian Foreign Secretary Shashank in Dhaka, Khan said the Indian official came here on a goodwill visit and no specific issue was discussed.
“But the two sides reaffirmed that they would not allow any terrorist activities against each other”, he said.
Asked about handing over of Anup Chetia, a United Liberation Front of Assam leader, now serving in Bangladesh jail, the foreign minister said, “We cannot interfere with the process of law and judiciary.”
Asked if he would be turned over to India after completion of his jail term, Khan said, “We’ll think about it.”
Describing India as an important neighbor of Bangladesh, the foreign minister said cooperation between the two countries is on the increase.
About the proposed river-linking project of India, Khan said according to international law, the flow of international rivers should not be interrupted without discussion with the upper-and lower-riparian countries.
“We hope that considering the adverse ecological and economic impacts, India would discuss the lower-riparian Bangladesh before implementation of its river-linking water project.”
