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In a dramatic development, Bangladeshi authorities have requested Interpol to issue a red notice against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 11 others, over allegations of plotting to overthrow the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government.
The move, reported by several local media outlets, marks a significant escalation in the legal battle against the former Awami League leader.
Police Submit Formal Request Amid Investigation
According to reports, the Bangladesh Police Headquarters submitted the request to Interpol as part of an ongoing investigation into charges that include inciting civil unrest and conspiring to destabilise the transitional administration.
Assistant Inspector General (Media) Enamul Haque Sagor, speaking to The Dhaka Tribune, confirmed the development.
Sagor explained that investigators file these applications based on allegations that emerge during investigations or arise from ongoing case proceedings.
Red Notice To Aid Global Manhunt
If approved, the red notice will enable law enforcement agencies around the world to locate and provisionally detain the accused individuals, pending extradition or other legal procedures.
“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,” Sagor added. He also noted that the request is currently under process.
According to The Daily Star, such procedures are typically initiated following appeals from courts, prosecutors, or investigative authorities.
Prosecutors Previously Urged Hasina’s Arrest
This latest move follows a formal request by the Chief Prosecutor’s Office of the International Crimes Tribunal, which urged police to seek Interpol’s assistance in arresting Hasina.
That appeal was lodged in November last year.
Hasina In Exile, Facing Over 100 Legal Cases
Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who governed Bangladesh for 16 years under the banner of the Awami League, reportedly fled the country on 5 August last year amid a massive student-led uprising.
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The protests led to the collapse of her government and ushered in a caretaker administration under Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus.
Since fleeing, Hasina has allegedly been residing in India. She currently faces more than 100 criminal cases, including serious charges such as mass murder, corruption, and crimes against humanity.
Authorities have arrested most of her senior ministers and top party officials, while others have gone underground to avoid prosecution.
In February, Hasina addressed Awami League supporters online from her undisclosed location in India.
During her speech, she condemned the interim administration, accusing it of turning Bangladesh into a “hub of terrorism and lawlessness”.
A Widening Political Crisis
This request for international assistance through Interpol highlights the deepening political and legal crisis in Bangladesh.
As the interim government seeks to assert control and restore order, the pursuit of Sheikh Hasina and her former allies signals a clear intent to hold past leaders accountable under the law.
It remains unclear whether Interpol will issue the red notice.
However, the move represents a crucial step in the Bangladeshi government’s broader effort to clamp down on alleged corruption and criminal activities linked to the former regime.
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