Zakir Hossain from Dhaka
Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has moved to secure an Interpol Red Notice against former army chief Gen (retd) Aziz Ahmed to bring him back to the country for trial in a crimes-against-humanity case linked to the 2013 Shapla Chattar crackdown in Dhaka.
The tribunal’s Chief Prosecutor’s Office has sent a letter to the National Central Bureau (NCB) of Bangladesh Police, asking it to take the necessary steps with Interpol for the location and possible arrest of Aziz. Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam confirmed the development on Tuesday.
Aminul said prosecutors had received information that Aziz was in the United States and sent the letter on Monday after confirming his whereabouts.
Asked whether the NCB had already forwarded the request to Interpol, Aminul said: “I cannot say that. We sent it yesterday. We have submitted it and that means they will forward it.”
The NCB, based at Bangladesh Police headquarters, is Dhaka’s official liaison with Interpol and coordinates the exchange of information concerning fugitives and internationally wanted suspects.
A Red Notice is a request to police forces around the world to locate and provisionally arrest a wanted person pending extradition or other legal proceedings. It is not an international arrest warrant, and authorities in each country decide what action to take under their domestic law.
Case linked to 2013 Shapla Chattar crackdown
Aziz is among 41 accused in a crimes-against-humanity case relating to the May 5-6, 2013 crackdown surrounding a rally by Islamist group Hefazat-e-Islam at Shapla Chattar in Dhaka’s Motijheel area and subsequent violence, including in Narayanganj.
The tribunal’s investigation agency says 58 people were killed across four locations, 32 in Dhaka, 20 in Narayanganj, five in Chattogram and one in Cumilla. These figures form part of the prosecution’s case and remain allegations to be tested at trial.
Aziz, who later served as Bangladesh Army chief, was director general of the Border Guard Bangladesh at the time of the 2013 events.
Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal-2 on July 27 accepted formal charges against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Aziz and 39 others over the crackdown and issued arrest warrants against accused who remain at large.
Aminul said the request concerning Aziz was sent after prosecutors were able to establish his location. Similar steps could be taken against other fugitive accused once their whereabouts are confirmed.
The move is the prosecution’s first attempt to use Interpol to bring back an absconding accused in the Shapla Chattar case. Authorities had earlier initiated a similar Interpol process against former Bangladesh police chief Benazir Ahmed, who is also an accused in the case.
If Interpol approves the request, any subsequent arrest and extradition of Aziz would still depend on the laws and procedures of the country where he is located.