Bangladesh turmoil delays Chetia’s extradition

Extradition of ULFA leader Anup Chetia alias Golap Baruah by the Bangladesh government to India was to be a ‘Bihu gift‘ that would have facilitated the ongoing talks process towards a speedy resolution, Sanjib Kr Baruah reports.

Extradition of ULFA leader Anup Chetia alias Golap Baruah by the Bangladesh government to India was to be a ‘Bihu gift‘ that would have facilitated the ongoing talks process towards a speedy resolution. But that effort has been put paid to by the latest political developments in the neighbouring country.

HT Image

“The politics of instability in Bangladesh has relegated Chetia’s return to the backburner. Without doubt, this has impeded the progress of the talks as he had shown willingness to join the pro-talks faction of the ULFA which is holding talks with the government,” a source told HT.

Bohag Bihu is the main Assamese festival that coincides with Baisakhi on April 13-14.

Chetia, founder general secretary of the ULFA, was arrested in Dhaka on December 21, 1997 on charges of illegally staying in that country, possessing forced passports and foreign currency. After having served his seven-year time in various Bangladesh jails, Chetia had filed a petition before Bangladesh Supreme Court for political asylum.

Chetia is considered to wield considerable clout within the ULFA as well as with Paresh Barua, who continues to lead armed fighters from his camps in the Myanmar-China border.

About 100 people have been killed in Bangladesh riots erupted over awarding death sentence to Jamaat leader Delwar Hosssain Sayeed for war crimes.