Fact Check: Interpol has not issued Red Notice against Hasina

Since early today, a number of newspapers have run reports saying a Red Notice has been issued by Interpol against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina. 

This news is, however, false. 

At a briefing today (22 December), International Crimes Tribunal's Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam said he does not know whether a Red Notice had been issued or not.

The Police Headquarters also said they do not yet have information about the issuance of a Red Notice against Hasina, who fled to India on 5 August in the face of a mass uprising led by students.

Talking to The Business Standard, Additional Inspector General Enamul Haque of the Police Headquarters media wing said they were not informed about this issue. 

"We wrote a letter to Interpol for the issuance of a Red Notice for the arrest of Sheikh Hasina a few days ago. However, we have yet to receive any notification regarding the issuance of the Red Notice."

Earlier in the day, Tajul had said a Red Notice would be issued against Hasina, according to different media reports.

It should be noted that Interpol's website showing Red Notices does not show any such notice for Hasina.

Interpol currently has a total of 6,656 public Red Notices in circulation. Only 63 of them are against Bangladeshis.

A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.

It is based on an arrest warrant or court order issued by the judicial authorities in the requesting country. Member countries apply their own laws in deciding whether to arrest a person. 

On 12 November, the ICT chief prosecutor's office sent a letter to Interpol, urging it to issue a Red Notice against Hasina to facilitate her arrest and repatriation for orchestrating the killings, genocides and crimes against humanity committed during the student-led mass-uprising in July and August.