Dhaka, July 31: India has pledged all help to Bangladesh in tracking down two convicted killers of the country's founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who could possibly be hiding in India.
 Home Minister P Chidambaram assured the Bangladeshi establishment that India would spare no effort in looking for the two fugitives as he met top officials here during his visit.
 "It's possible that they could be in India," he told a joint press briefing with his counterpart Sahara Khatun at the end of their crucial talks, ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Dhaka tour next month.
 He said New Delhi asked Bangladesh to provide some more information and intelligence to help find former army captain Abdul Majed and former Risaldar Moslehuddin who were on the run to evade death penalties.
 "I have assured my counterpart that no effort and resources will be spared to apprehend and hand them over to Bangladesh," the Home Minister said.
 Chidambaram's comments came after Khatun in her opening statement at the briefing said, "we requested (New Delhi) to find out if the two were hiding anywhere in India".
 Chidambaram also pledged New Delhi's support to help Dhaka in tracking down the fugitives as he made a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office yesterday, a spokesman said.
 Twelve former army officers were handed down death sentences for masterminding and carrying out the August 15, 1975 carnage under a protracted trial process that began in 1996, when the ruling Awami League returned to power.
 Five of them -- two former lieutenant colonels Mohiuddin Ahmed and Shahriar Rashid Khan, ex-major Bazlul Huda, and lancer A K M Mohiuddin Ahmed -- who faced the trial in person or were tracked down subsequently, were hanged on January 28 last year
 after losing their final legal battles.
 While Huda was returned from Thailand after Dhaka and Bangkok signed an extradition treaty, Mohiuddin Ahmed was returned from the US during the past military-backed interim government despite the absence of an extradition treaty.
 Bangladesh first sought Indian assistance in tracking down Majed and Muslehuddin during the January visit of Home Secretary Gopal K Pillai.
 Bangladesh Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Shikdar had said at that time that Bangladeshi administration had information that two of the convicted killers of Bangabandhu were hiding somewhere in India.
 Officials earlier said India was given a Red Corner Notice in connection with the two fugitives.
 A total of six convicts are absconding in connection with the case. Officials have said diplomatic and police efforts are underway to bring them back. One of the convicts, sacked lieutenant colonel Aziz Pasha, died in Zimbabwe.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 31 Jul 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 31 Jul 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 1 Aug 2011 00:00:00 IST