Dhaka is all set to hand over top ULFA leader Anup Chetia to India. A senior diplomatic official told Mail Today that a conducive timing is being considered for the move though the arrangements have already been worked out at the highest level. The move would also be a big confidence booster for the Indo-Bangla security cooperation which has been a high point of bilateral cooperation under the Sheikh Hasina regime.A deal has been reached to extradite the ULFA leader. The officials have talked about the repatriation of Subrata Bain and Sajjad Hossain, two Bangladesh nationals, held in India. The swap will happen as Bangladesh foreign minister Dipu Moni is headed to India to speak at a conference.
It’s learnt that she will also press for the signing of the land boundary agreement and the Teesta water treaty which is stuck following the reservations expressed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Sources said while Dhaka had not insisted on Chetia’s extradition as a package deal, expediting the land boundary agreement that is expected to be taken up in the coming session of Parliament. It may also boost the chances of Sheikh Hasina to win another term in the Bangladesh polls.
A friendly government in Bangladesh is important for India’s security interests and it helps Bangladeshi government maintain close ties with India.
The two Bangladeshis being handed over to that country were involved in attacks targeting the ruling Awami League leaders in Bangladesh. Bain is also an accused in the grenade attack on a rally of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2004. Hossain is lodged in Tihar jail.
Sources said India wanted to get Chetia in a bid to be part of the dialogue process which is currently under way with the ULFA. Chetia is the general secretary of the ULFA. He was arrested in Dhaka on December 21, 1997, under the Foreigners Act and Passports Act for illegal entry and carrying foreign currencies and a satellite phone.
Following the swap, Chetia, Bain and Hossain will be the first prisoners exchanged after Bangladesh and India agreed a legal framework for security cooperation in January 2013.- India Today via Google News
