Interpol assistance to be sought for repatriating Hasina, Kamal

The prosecution of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in Dhaka will seek assistance from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to repatriate deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal.

At a briefing on the ICT premises on Tuesday, prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim said preparations are underway to request a fresh Interpol Red Notice for the two fugitives on the basis of a conviction warrant.

"Both the accused are absconding, and an application has already been submitted to Interpol, along with the Tribunal's arrest warrant, seeking issuance of a Red Notice. Now we will ask the organisation, through the foreign ministry, to issue a new Red Notice based on the conviction warrant instead of the arrest warrant," the prosecutor said.

He added that the process has already begun and the request will be formally submitted once a certified copy of the judgment is received.

The fresh move came after the International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) on Monday handed down death sentences to Hasina and Kamal, who are reported to be in India, for committing crimes against humanity during the mass uprising held in July and August last year.

The tribunal also handed a five-year jail term to former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, who testified as an approver after admitting his involvement and detailing the offences before the court.

Tamim said the tribunal has also ordered providing the certified copies of the verdict to the prosecution and to the accused who were present during the pronouncement.

Absconding convicts may receive certified copies free of cost if they surrender or are arrested within 30 days. Another copy of the judgment will be sent to the Dhaka district magistrate for necessary compliance, he said.

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