India, Bangladesh working on Extradition Treaty: Hasina

After signing three pacts to combat terrorism and organised crime, India and Bangladesh are working on an Extradition Treaty, prime minister Sheikh Hasina said here today with an assertion that her government would go to "any extent" in cooperating against the menace.

Winding up her three-day successful India visit, she said the two countries need to stand against terrorism and can work together in this in a "friendly atmosphere".

"For Extradition Treaty, discussions are going on.... We have signed three agreements. Side by side, discussions are going on the Extradition Treaty," Hasina told journalists here while responding to a question.

"To end terrorism, we want to cooperate. We can go to any extent to cooperate," she said while reiterating that Bangladesh will not allow its soil to be used for any terrorist activity directed at India.

Hasina did not specify how soon the Extradition Treaty could be firmed up but foreign minister Dipu Moni later said it could be concluded shortly given the friendly relations.

For the time being, she said the three pacts signed on Monday were "enough" to work together in combating terrorism.

The pacts signed are Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons and Agreement on Combating International Terrorism, Organised Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking.

To a specific question on whether Bangladesh would hand over Ulfa leader Anup Chetia who is wanted in India, Hasina evaded a direct reply, saying she was not here to "discuss one name" but broader issues.

To a question about ULFA cadres taking shelter in Bangladesh, Hasina shot back, "many terrorists from our country are also living in India. It is a common thing."

She said the two countries should cooperate on this front. "If anybody from Bangladesh is in India, India should look into it and if anybody from India is in Bangladesh, we will look into it," the prime minister said.

To a question, she said if "any obstacles or problems" are encountered in the anti-terror cooperation under the three agreements signed, "we can discuss".

Expressing her determination to fight terrorism, Hasina said she herself was a victim of the menace, having lost her entire family to it and survived attempts on her life.

"Terrorists are terrorists. They have no religion, no country... They are giving bad name to Islam... Islam is religion of peace," she said, adding there was need for cooperation for peace in the region.

She refused to reply to a query about terrorism finding support in Pakistan and whether that country seemed to be sincere in fighting terrorism for peace in the region, saying such a question should be posed to Pakistan.

However, she added that since democratic governments were in place everywhere in the region, the countries could cooperate better in fight against terror.

To a query on anti-India mindset in Bangladesh, Hasina said that "perhaps that may remain. I cannot change that... But common people want better lives and if results are achieved (in India-Bangladesh cooperation), these sentiments will not work." Hasina said anti-India sentiments in some quarters in Bangladesh were not new as these had been used even way back
in the 1954 elections.

Making clear her high expectations from India, the Bangladesh prime minister said the "big" country with a "strong economy" should "look after all its neighbours at equal basis" while respecting their independence and sovereignty.

Describing India as a "natural friend" who had supported Bangladesh's liberation movement by training freedom fighters and hosting refugees, she said her visit here would "open new door and new era" in bilateral cooperation and boost the ties.

Asked to specify one single big thing that she was returning home with, she said, "friendship".

She said the joint communique issued yesterday amply demonstrated that Bangladesh was going to benefit.

On bilateral disputes like those related to border and water-sharing, Hasina said the two countries would be working to resolve these in a friendly and mutually-beneficial manner.

She said Bangladesh had decided to give transit facility to India as also Nepal and Bhutan to Chittagong and Mongla ports. In turn, India had agreed to grant transit facility to Bangladesh to Nepal and Bhutan.

Justifying the grant of transit by Bangladesh to India, she said in the present era, "one cannot keep doors closed."