An application has been made to the international police organization Interpol to issue a 'red notice' against 12 people, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted in the July mass uprising. The National Central Bureau (NCB) of Bangladesh Police has applied to Interpol in three separate phases to issue red notices against the individuals who are absconding abroad.
Along with Sheikh Hasina, those against whom a request for issuing a red notice has been made are Awami League General Secretary and former Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, former Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, former Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, former Textiles and Jute Minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak, former Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, former Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, former Prime Minister's Defense Advisor Major General (retd) Tariq Ahmed Siddique, former State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid, former State Minister for Information Mohammad Ali Arafat and former IGP Benazir Ahmed. Police headquarters sources said that the NCB branch of the police headquarters applies to Interpol for issuing a red notice upon the request of the court, prosecution (state party) or investigation agency.
A police source said that among the 12 people against whom a request for issuing a red notice has been made, the application against Benazir Ahmed has raised allegations of financial crimes. The application against the others has added information about their involvement in crimes against humanity.
The NCB applied to Interpol on April 10 against 10 other people, except Sheikh Hasina and Benazir Ahmed. Earlier, the Office of the Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal sent a letter with documents to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Police Headquarters to issue a red notice against them through Interpol.
The Office of the Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal had requested the Police Headquarters to apply to Interpol in November last year to issue a red alert to arrest Sheikh Hasina. On the other hand, an application was made to Interpol to issue a red notice against Benazir in February this year. Earlier, a Dhaka court ordered action to be taken to issue a red notice against Benazir on the basis of an application by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
However, apart from the application to issue a red notice to Interpol, the interim government is also trying to bring back fugitives abroad under the agreement with countries including India with which Bangladesh has an extradition treaty. However, the sources concerned believe that it will not be easy to bring them back under the extradition treaty.
Sheikh Hasina fled to India on August 5 last year in the face of student and public protests. She is still staying there. Bangladesh has an extradition treaty with India. The Bangladesh government has formally requested India to bring her back under this agreement.