'India and Bangladesh need extradition treaty'

Shillong, May 21: India and Bangladesh need to build trust and cooperation to counter the global terrorism in both countries, a senior Indian diplomat said today.

''We need to build trust and co-operation including common initiative for counter terrorism and intelligence sharing,'' Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Mr Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, told UNI.

Mr Chakravarty, who is on an official visit to Shillong said, "India wishes to see Bangladesh as a prosperous country and that can happen only if both countries mutually agree to extend cooperation and understanding.'' He stressed on the necessity of developing infrastructure and connectivity. "If Bangladesh prospers, cross-border movement, whether it is influx or crime will come down," he asserted.

''New Delhi has been suggesting Dhaka to have extradition treaty and mutual legal assistance,'' he said.

The care-taker government of Bangladesh had been helping India in tracking the insurgents. "It (government) acted against the Indian-based insurgents in Bangladesh and few of the Bodo militants were arrested from Sherpur district (Bangladesh)", Mr Chakravarty said.

He stressed on the need for Extradition treaty. "In absence of this treaty, both countries find difficult to get back criminals. It is time that both New Delhi and Dhaka sign an extradition pact to ensure justice,'' Mr Chakravarty suggested.

He informed that India would again request Bangladesh to handover Anup Chetia, a key-ULFA leader. Chetia, arrested in Dhaka by the previous government on charges of illegal stay and possessing forged documents, was released from jail on completion of his term in February 2003.

UNI