Extradition treaty to dominate Dhaka-London dialogue today

Signing of an extradition treaty will dominate the 3rd Strategic Dialogue between Bangladesh and the UK today as the government is firm on bringing home BNP acting chairperson Tarique Rahman from London.

Although there is no extradition treaty between Bangladesh and the UK, top government officials said both the countries have laws of mutual legal assistance under which convicts like Tarique can be deported.

Tarique has been sentenced to life imprisonment in the August 21 grenade attack case.

Permanent Under Secretary of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Sir Simon McDonald arrived in Dhaka yesterday to attend the foreign secretary-level Strategic Dialogue.

Asked about the extradition of Tarique, Simon told a small group of journalists that his government does not comment on any individual case.

“It is the policy of the UK government not to comment on any high profile individual case,” he added.

About the UK government’s response on request from another country for freezing bank accounts in its territory, Simon said any action taken against any bank account in the UK would have to be done under the country’s law. 

He said 16 topics would be discussed in today’s meeting.

Responding to another question, he said the UK government attaches high importance to relations with Bangladesh.

Simon said the UK government has such structure of Strategic Dialogue with only three countries -- Canada, Israel and Bangladesh.

Earlier yesterday, the British diplomat had talks with Prime Minister’s International Affairs Secretary Gowher Rizvi.