Bangladesh HC commutes ULFA leader Paresh Baruah’s death sentence to life imprisonment

ULFA chief Paresh Barua

Dhaka (Bangladesh) – The Bangladesh High Court has commuted the death sentence of Paresh Baruah, the leader of the banned terrorist organisation ULFA, to life imprisonment. This decision pertains to the 2004 Chittagong arms smuggling case. The Court also acquitted former Bangladesh Minister Lutfozzaman Babar and five of his associates. This case involved the smuggling of arms and ammunition in 10 vehicles for anti-India terrorist organisations. At a time when tensions between India and Bangladesh are rising, the decision to commute the death sentence of Paresh Baruah, a terrorist wanted by India, is expected to further strain relations between the two countries.

1. During the regime of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami in 2004, a large cache of arms was seized in Bangladesh.

2. Evidence indicated Lutfozzaman Babar’s involvement in arms smuggling for terrorist groups. Babar served as the Minister of State for Home Affairs in Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s Government from 2001 to 2006.

3. Paresh Baruah sought refuge in Bangladesh in 2000. In exchange for this asylum, he and his family were reportedly required to convert to Islam.

4. ULFA was established with the aim of seceding Assam from India and declaring it an independent nation.

Editorial Perspective

If the Bangladesh Government revokes Barua’s life sentence or assists him in carrying out terrorist activities from prison, it would not be surprising.