Send back Nur to face trial

A West Bengal court yesterday ordered that Bangladesh national Nur Hossain, prime accused in the sensational seven-murder case in Narayanganj, be sent back home to face trial.

The order was made by Sandipan Chakraborty, additional chief judicial magistrate of Barasat in North Chobbish Parganas. The court asked the authorities concerned to comply with its order within December 16.

Talking to The Daily Star, West Bengal Public Prosecutor Bikash Ranjan said the Bangladesh government had requested the Indian authorities to hand over Hossain to it as he was accused of murder.

"The magistrate has allowed withdrawal of all the charges levelled against Hossain so that he can be sent back to Bangladesh," added Ranjan.

The accused fled to India after the murders in April last year and was captured in Kolkata in June. He was charged in the court on two counts of illegal entry into India and trespass.

The court order came after the Indian home ministry had accepted a request from the Bangladesh government to send Hossain back to face trial. In view of the request, the ministry decided to withdraw the case.

A senior home ministry official in New Delhi said they would wait for the formal court order before making a decision as to how to send Hossain back.

A decision has to be made after a careful analysis of legal implications whether to deported Hossain as an illegal alien or send him back under the extradition treaty between India and Bangladesh, he noted.

Hossain, a former Awami League leader, has been charged with masterminding the murder of his party rival Nazrul Islam, his lawyer Chandan Sarkar, and five others.

The seven were abducted on April 27 last year. Later, their bodies were found floating in the Shitalakkhya river.