PM leaves for Dhaka; extradition treaty on agenda

New Delhi Sept 6: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today left on a two day visit to Bangladesh. The PM is expected to sign a list of bilateral ties in the range of sectors including extradition of sentenced persons, connectivity, power, exchange of enclaves and border management.

Meanwhile, signing the accord on sharing Teesta river water is in uncertainty as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Benerjee expressed her apprehension to the centre and pulled herself out of the visit.

India and Bangladesh will sign an extradition treaty on Tuesday, Sept 6 which will facilitate expatriation of each others' fugitives, including ULFA leader Anup Chetia.

Official sources said all formalities and discussion to sign the extradition treaty have been completed and it will be signed by the officials of India and Bangladesh in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his counterpart Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka.

Earlier, Foreign Secretory Ranjan Mathai said that the extradition was "under discussion". Chetia, who has already served out his sentence on being arrested in 1997 for illegally entering Bangladesh, is likely to be the first person to be extradited to India from Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Bangladesh also wants their most wanted fugitives which include the killers of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, who are believed to be hiding in India.

On the eve of his departure for Dhaka, Singh had stated that the discussions will be on the agenda of security, boundary issues, water resources, power connectivity, improvement of border infrastructure, trade facilitation and economic cooperation and also said efforts would be made to sustain and build upon the "positive momentum".

Sources also said that during his visit, Singh will hold talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina, President Zillur Rahman and also hold meetings with opposition leaders Begum Khaleda Zia and Jatiya Party chief Hussain Muhammed Ershad, the former military dictator.

OneIndia News