India to hand over Nur Hossain soon

India is likely to hand over Nur Hossain, the main accused in the Narayanganj seven-murder case, soon, said Mozammel Huq Khan, secretary of the home ministry.

“We have directed the police to take all necessary measures to bring him back following India's external affairs ministry's letter last week.” In the letter, India wanted to know where and when it could hand over Nur who is now imprisoned in Kolkata.

He was arrested with two other Bangladeshis in a Kolkata apartment on June 14 for not having any document required for entering the country.

“So far we have learnt that India may take a few more days to complete the necessary legal process to send Nur Hossain back as the matter is still under the court's jurisdiction there [India],” the secretary said.

It may take less than a week to bring him back if everything works smoothly, he added. "We have been in continuous communication with India regarding the matter."

Bangladesh urged India to return Nur at a joint working group meeting in Dhaka in September. India at the time said it would return him and all other Bangladeshi suspected criminals who were in its captivity.

Nur fled to India after the abduction and killing of seven people, including Narayanganj city panel mayor Nazrul Islam, in April.

Eight months after the murders, the police failed to submit any chargesheet. So far, 17 people, including 15 Rapid Action Battalion members, have given confessional statements in court under section 164.