Bangladesh announced on Sunday that it would seek an Interpol “red notice” for fugitive leaders from the ousted regime of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was toppled during a revolution in August.
Asif Nazrul, the law advisor to the interim government, told reporters, “Those responsible for the indiscriminate killings during the mass uprising in July and August will be brought back from wherever they have sought refuge.
We will ensure they are arrested and brought to justice.”
Since Hasina’s regime collapsed, dozens of her allies have been taken into custody on charges related to a brutal police crackdown that resulted in over 700 deaths during the unrest leading to her ouster.
Interpol’s red notices are issued at the request of a member country, based on an arrest warrant from that country.
Nazrul did not specify any individuals by name, but Bangladesh has already issued an arrest warrant for Hasina, 77, who was last seen arriving in India after fleeing by helicopter when crowds stormed her palace.
During her 15 years in power, Hasina’s government was accused of widespread human rights violations, including mass detentions and extrajudicial killings of political opponents.
A red notice from Interpol alerts global law enforcement agencies about wanted fugitives.
Nazrul confirmed that Bangladesh would request the notice “as soon as possible.”
Although India is an Interpol member, a red notice does not obligate New Delhi to extradite Hasina.
Interpol clarifies that member countries can apply their own laws when deciding whether to arrest a person.
Hasina has been summoned to appear in court in Dhaka on November 18 to face charges of “massacres, killings, and crimes against humanity.”
Mohammad Tajul Islam, chief prosecutor of Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), confirmed that the court had sought arrest warrants for over 60 individuals, with around 25 arrests made so far.
AFP
