Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina formed the government in 1996 and on 5 July that year, killer of Bangabandhu, Noor Chowdhury, entered Canada.

During the AL tenure (96-2001), Noor Chowdhury and wife applied for refugee status in Canada but their application was rejected on 1 August, 2002. The following appeal was also dismissed in 2003.

The gist of Canadian Federal Court verdict, dismissing the appeal is as follows: “While rejecting the appeal, the refugee board has come to the conclusion that Noor Chowdhury is not a traditional refugee and does not require any security. After assessing the case, the board has come to know that Noor was linked to a heinous political crime and therefore, cannot be deemed a refugee.”

The refugee board also said that Amnesty International Research Centre found no irregularity or partiality in the trial of 15 former military personnel for the killing of Bangabandhu.

The refugee board felt that the refugee applicants received proper justice in Bangladesh. The judge also said: “Noor Chowdhury’s statement that he crossed all military check posts after the killing of Bangabandhu on 15 August, is not credible and the refugee board feels he was complicit in the killing conspiracy.”

The refugee board added that the 15 August putsch in Bangladesh was directed against civilians and their family members, as result of which, 20 persons were killed.

This is deemed a crime against humanity.

The board concluded by saying that Noor Chowdhury was fearful of the trial process; he is nothing but a fugitive.