BANGLA-ULFA 2 LST

But the deal has a rider, that it is only if the
prisoners want to serve the remaining terms of their
imprisonments in jails in their own countries, that the
repatriation can take place.

Moni had told newsmen replying to a question that there
was no scope under the deal, expected to be signed during
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's forthcoming India visit, to
handover the ULFA leader to New Delhi authorities.

Moreover, she said jailed Indian or Bangladeshi prisoner
detained in each other's country would have to apply for
extradition to serve the rest of their term in their own
country under the treaty.

Police had arrested Chetia from a Dhaka residence where
he was living during the Awami League's previous 1996-2001
regime and subsequently served a jail term here for entering
the country with fake documents.

Officials said he was still in a jail for "security
reasons" after the expiry of his term as he preferred to stay
back in Bangladesh fearing reprisals in his country.

Bangladesh and India do not have an extradition treaty
for exchange of wanted persons but security agencies exchanged
several wanted gangsters and "criminals" in the past two years
as friendly gestures.

Dhaka, however, reiterated its stand during Moni's India
visit that it would not allow its territory to be used by
these militants or separatist outfits. PTI