Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Kumar Doraiswami today (May 17) said the legal procedure has to be completed for extraditing Bangladeshi businessman PK Halder from India to Bangladesh.

“There is a legal process that has to be followed . . . it's a process, nothing outside the ordinary in that sense, it is normal focal (that) India and Bangladesh to cooperate against organized crime of criminal,” he told media after emerging from a meeting with foreign secretary Masud Bin Momen at foreign ministry here.

Asked when Haldar could be extradited, Doraiswami also said, this involved a legal procedure and “you know it’s not like exchanging Christmas cards”.

He added, “So let that happen slowly”.

The envoy said New Delhi was working with Dhaka regarding the issue while the information related to Haldar came from Bangladesh.

Besides, the Indian envoy said PK Halder was detained in West Bengal on the basis of information provided by Bangladesh authorities. 

He said Haldar’s arrest was part of normal cooperation between the two governments as Bangladesh and India have mutually legal assistance treaty.

Masud later told the media that Dhaka was expecting all kinds of cooperation from India to bring back PK Halder here for producing him in front of trial.

“During our meeting, I raised the issue of PK Halder while he (Indian high commissioner) assured me to provide all kinds of cooperation regarding the issue,” he said.

The foreign secretary said Haldar would be sent back here after completion of legal procedure currently ongoing in India. “There is no reason that he won’t be sent back,” he added.

He said that Dhaka would request to sent back Haldar through diplomatic channels while the Home Ministry has an important role to play on the issue. 

 “We all are on the same page as we won’t exempt any criminal,” Masud said.          
   
Bangladesh and India have an extradition treaty to exchange of fugitive criminals. 

BDST: 2043 HRS, MAY 17, 2022
MSK/SMS