Take measures for Interpol Red Notices against Hasina, Joy: ACC to Police HQ

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has sent two letters to the Police Headquarters, urging it to take necessary steps in coordination with the government to have Interpol issue Red Notices against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy.

Officials investigating the Purbachal plot scam cases against Hasina and Joy sent the letters, with relevant documents attached, to the Police Headquarters today, a senior ACC official told TBS.

The International Criminal Police Organisation, commonly known as Interpol, issues the Red Notice in line with an international request for cooperation to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.

It is not an international arrest warrant but serves as a tool for law enforcement agencies worldwide to collaborate in tracking down fugitives.

The ACC in the letters, copies of which were seen by TBS, said since Hasina and her son are now abroad, in the interest of justice, the trial court has issued arrest warrants against them to identify their location, bring them back to the country, and face the law.

Hasina and Joy are accused in multiple cases filed over alleged abuse of power and irregularities in acquiring plots from Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) in Purbachal New Town Project when the Awami League was in power for over 15 years since 2009.

The ACC officials attached copies of the court's order, warrant of arrest, first information reports, the chargesheets, and the draft of the filled-up Red Notice application forms with the letters and urged the Police Headquarters to take the necessary steps.

First, a letter will be sent from the police to the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the issuance of a Red Notice. Later, the Ministry of Home Affairs will send a letter to Interpol to issue the notice.

Hasina fled to India on 5 August last year in the face of a mass uprising, led by students, which toppled her government after 15 years in power. Joy, who also served as his mother's ICT adviser during the Awami League regime, has been living in the United States for years.

The ACC filed six cases in January this year against Hasina, Joy, her daughter Saima Wazed Putul, sister Sheikh Rehana, Rehana's children Tulip Rizwana Siddiq, Azmina Siddique Ruponti, and Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby, and several others, accusing them of abusing power and irregularities in obtaining plots from Rajuk at the Purbachal New Town Project.

Two Dhaka courts on 31 July indicted 27 people, including Hasina, Rehana, and all of their children, in the cases. The courts also ordered arrest warrants against them as they are currently absconding. Witness depositions in these cases are currently ongoing.

After the mass uprising, Hasina, along with top Awami League leaders, was accused in dozens of cases filed over murder and attempted murder charges at numerous police stations across the country.

Sheikh Hasina, the Awami League president, is also facing multiple cases of crimes against humanity in the International Crimes Tribunal for the mass killings that took place during the July Uprising of last year.

Back on 19 April, Enamul Haque Sagor, assistant inspector general (media) at the Police Headquarters, told reporters a request to Interpol for issuing a Red Notice against 12 people, including Hasina, was under process at the time.

He said the National Central Bureau (NCB) of Bangladesh Police makes such requests to Interpol based on appeals received from courts, public prosecutors, or investigating agencies.

"These applications are filed in connection with allegations that emerge during investigations or through ongoing case proceedings," he said.

Interpol plays a key role in identifying the locations of fugitives residing abroad. Once the whereabouts of any absconding individual are confirmed, that information is relayed to Interpol, the AIG added.

The Chief Prosecutor's Office of the International Crimes Tribunal in November last year formally requested the Police Headquarters to seek Interpol's assistance in arresting Hasina and others deemed fugitives.