The National Central Bureau (NCB) of Bangladesh Police has sought Interpol’s assistance to issue red notices for 25 individuals, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In the last year, Interpol approved red notices for only four individuals—former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed, along with Arif Sarkar, Mohsin Mia, and Awlad Hossain.
The notices for 21 others remain pending with Interpol. Applications for red notices against these absconding individuals abroad were submitted in three separate phases.
Those for whom red notices have been sought, alongside Sheikh Hasina, include her daughter Saima Wazed, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, former Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, former Liberation War Affairs Minister A K M Mozammel Haque, former Information Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud, former Textiles and Jute Minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak, former Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, former Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, Sheikh Hasina’s security adviser Major General (Retd.) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former State Minister for Power and Energy Nasrul Hamid, and former State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat.
Applications for red notices have also been filed against fugitive individuals from earlier cases—Mohammad Ali, Jebunnesa Akter, and Habib Khan.
Meanwhile, in response to accusations of negligence in paying workers’ rightful dues and long absences abroad, red notice requests were also submitted against Shahadat Hossain Shamim, Managing Director of TNZ Group; Ittemad Ud Doula, Chairman of Dird Group; Nabil Ud Doula, Managing Director of Dird Group; and Mamunul Islam and Ujjal Haider, Managing Directors of Roar Fashion Limited. The initiative was reportedly based on cases filed in the Labor Court of the Ministry of Labor and Employment, Gazipur, and the First and Third Labor Courts in Dhaka.
According to police headquarters, among the four individuals against whom red notices have already been issued are murder suspects Arif Sarkar and Mohsin Mia. Recently, Mohsin Mia was brought back from Dubai. A red notice was also issued against Awlad Hossain, who is absconding in Australia on charges of killing his wife. Additionally, a red notice was issued against former IGP Benazir Ahmed, following an application submitted to Interpol in February this year. Before that, a Dhaka court, responding to a request from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), directed the authorities to initiate the process for a red notice against him.
Sources said that the NCB branch of police headquarters submits red notice requests to Interpol following directives from the courts, prosecution, or investigative agencies. In the case of Sheikh Hasina and the 25 others, the application against Benazir Ahmed cited financial crimes, while the others were accused of involvement in crimes against humanity. The Office of the Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal requested police headquarters to apply to Interpol for a red notice against Sheikh Hasina in November last year.
Deputy Inspector General (Operations) of police headquarters, Md. Rezaul Karim, told reporters that Interpol assists in locating fugitives abroad. If a fugitive’s possible location is confirmed, the respective country notifies Interpol. Applications that remain pending are still under Interpol’s review.
So far, the International Crimes Tribunal has filed three cases against Sheikh Hasina. These include charges of involvement in killings and massacres during the July uprising, charges of killings and torture of Hefazat-e-Islam leaders and activists during the Shapla Square crackdown in Motijheel in 2013, and charges of enforced disappearances and killings during her more than 15 years in power.
Meanwhile, according to ACC sources, in the past year at least 10 influential individuals and their family members have been referred to police for red notice applications. This list includes former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, her daughter Saima Wazed Putul, former Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed, former IGP Benazir Ahmed, and Saiful Alam, owner of S. Alam Group, along with members of his family. For the first time in ACC’s history, simultaneous red notice requests have been made against a former prime minister, her children, and family members. Each request was accompanied by detailed identity information, including national ID numbers, passport numbers, addresses, arrest warrants, and other necessary documents.
Bd-pratidin English/ ANI
