Bangladesh Police filed requests with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) for red notices against 25 individuals, but none have been issued even after a year.
The National Central Bureau (NCB) of the police made the requests to Interpol headquarters following court orders, as the individuals, all accused in billions of dollars’ worth of corruption charges, could not be found in the country.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is investigating multiple corruption cases filed against the fugitives.
Individuals listed for red notices include deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul, former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed and his spouse, former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed and his wife.
The owner of S Alam Group, Saiful Alam, and his four brothers, as well as three garment factory owners, are also on the list. However, none of their names appear in Interpol’s Red Notice list on its website.
Providing more details, IGP Baharul Alam told TIMES of Bangladesh, “Applications have been submitted to Interpol for Red Notices against several individuals. Assistant IGP (Interpol Desk) Ali Haidar Chowdhury made these submissions.
“Interpol has a legal committee that approves such notices. Once approved, a Red Notice is issued. Since these applications have not been approved, no Red Notices have been issued in the past year.”
Regarding the request for red notices against Sheikh Hasina and her children, Baharul expressed concerns, noting that without government-to-government discussions, it may not be possible to bring Hasina and others back from India.
What are red notices?
According to the Interpol website, a red notice is an international alert issued by Interpol at the request of a member country to locate and provisionally arrest a person, pending extradition or other legal action.
It serves as an international alert for wanted individuals, not an arrest warrant itself, and each member country decides independently how to act on it based on its own laws.
A red notice contains identifying information about the wanted person and details about the crime they are accused of.
No new Bangladeshi additions
According to the Interpol website, there are 6,511 individuals listed in red notices worldwide, including 60 Bangladeshis.
Among those listed are individuals accused in the Bangabandhu assassination case, war crimes cases, top terrorists, and individuals sentenced to death in the murder case of model Tinny.
Police Headquarters’ AIG (Media) AHM Shahadat Hossain said, “From August 2024 to the present, the Interpol Desk has submitted requests for red notices against 25 individuals.
“So far, Interpol has issued red notices for four individuals, although their names cannot be disclosed.”
However, the Interpol website shows no new additions of Bangladeshi names to the Red Notice list in the past year.
According to ACC Deputy Director Md Akhtarul Islam, the court’s order has led to requests for red notices to be issued for deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her daughter Saima Wazed Putul, son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed, his wife Rukhmila Zaman, former IGP Benazir Ahmed, his wife Zeeshan Mirza, Saiful Alam of S Alam Group and his three brothers – Rashedul Alam, Maruf Alam, and Majedul Alam.
Police headquarters had submitted these requests throughout the last year.
No progress for a year
In a recent court hearing, ACC Public Prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam confirmed that the request for red notices was made based on the investigation officer’s recommendation.
The court orders the issuance, and the police headquarters executes it. Upon learning of the orders regarding former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her children, the police sent a letter to Interpol.
According to the court records, on 19 April this year, a request was made to Interpol for red notices against 12 individuals, including Hasina.
The NCB applied to Interpol in three separate phases for the issuance of red notices against these individuals, who are currently abroad.
These individuals include Hasina, former ministers Obaidul Quader, Asaduzzaman Khan, AKM Mozammel Haque, Hasan Mahmud, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, former Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, former defence adviser Maj Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former state minister Nasrul Hamid, Muhammad Ali Arafat, and former IGP Benazir Ahmed.
Earlier, on 10 February this year, a Dhaka court directed the police to submit an Interpol red notice request against Benazir in line with the ACC request.
On 4 September, the ACC investigation officer sent a letter to Police Headquarters to initiate the process for red notices against Hasina and her son Joy in a plot scam case.
In a case related to corruption in the allocation of plots by the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha, the court directed Interpol to issue an arrest warrant for Putul.
The order was passed on 27 April by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Mohammad Zakir Hossain Galib.
ACC Assistant Director Aminul Islam confirmed that the request for an Interpol arrest warrant for Saima Wazed Putul was filed by the ACC and subsequently approved by the court.
In another case, Judge Md Sabbir Faiz of the Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s Court in Dhaka directed the issuance of a red notice for the owner of S Alam Group, Saiful Alam, and his three brothers on 25 September.
They are accused of money laundering and acquiring illegal assets abroad.
On 21 September, the court issued a similar directive for former land minister Javed and his wife. The order was passed by Chattogram Senior Metropolitan Special Judge Abdur Rahman.
In several cases filed by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, on 1 September, the police sought Interpol red notices against four garment factory owners – TNZ Group Managing Director Shahadat Hossain Shamim, Dird Group Chairman Itemad Ud Daulah and its Managing Director Nabeel Ud Daulah, and Roar Fashion Ltd Managing Director Mamunul Islam.
On 23 August, the NCB applied to Interpol for the arrest and repatriation of Shammi Akhtar and her daughter Farzana Akhtar Ipshita – the second wife and daughter of Matiur Rahman, a former member of the National Board of Revenue. They are currently fugitives.
