Former army chief Aziz Ahmed.
An application has been made through Interpol to issue a red notice against former army chief Aziz Ahmed.
Chief Prosecutor Md. Aminul Islam confirmed the matter to reporters on Tuesday (August 18).
Chief Prosecutor Md. Aminul Islam has requested the International Police Organization (Interpol) to take necessary steps to issue a red notice against Aziz Ahmed in accordance with the relevant regulations.
At the same time, it has been asked to report on progress in this regard and, if necessary, inform the prosecution of the International Criminal Tribunal.
The letter has been sent to the Inspector General of Bangladesh Police as well as to the Additional Inspector General of Police (NCB), Bangladesh Police Headquarters.
It is learnt that a request has been made through Interpol to issue a red notice against former army chief and then Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Director General General Aziz Ahmed in a case filed alleging crimes against humanity in connection with the raid on a Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Square in Motijheel, the capital, on May 5, 2013, and the shooting incident in Siddhirganj, Narayanganj the next day.
The International Crimes Tribunal has written to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Bangladesh and the Additional IG of the Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB) of the police to take necessary action in this regard.
The Chief Prosecutor said that this is the first initiative to bring back a fugitive accused through Interpol in a case related to the murder that took place in Motijheel’s Shapla Chattar.
He said, “We have learned that General (Retd.) Aziz Ahmed has fled to the Middle East or some other country. We believe we can bring him back through Interpol and bring him to justice.”
The Chief Prosecutor said that initiatives will be taken to bring back the other fugitive accused in the case who are staying outside the country in phases.
Earlier, the International Crimes Tribunal took note of the formal charges brought against 41 people, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted in the July coup, in connection with the massacre at a Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Square in the capital’s Motijheel on July 27.
At the same time, arrest warrants were issued against the absconding accused in the case and the accused arrested in other cases were ordered to appear before the tribunal.
Apart from Sheikh Hasina, the other accused in the case include then Home Minister Dr. Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, State Minister for Home Affairs Advocate Shamsul Haque Tuku, Information Minister and JSD President Hasanul Haque Inu, Awami League Presidium member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Food Minister Dr. Abdur Razzak and banned Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubbul Alam Hanif. Apart from this, the list of accused includes then Information Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud, Awami League Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, former minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui, former State Minister Advocate Mrinal Kanti Das, then Awami League Joint General Secretary Jahangir Kabir Nanak, former minister Dr. Dipu Moni, former minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, then Jubo League chairman Omar Faruk Chowdhury, former MP Salauddin Mahmud and Ganajagaran Mancha convener and spokesperson Dr. Imran H. Sarkar. Among the journalists, Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee president Shahriar Kabir, former managing director of Ekattor Media Limited Mozammel Haque Babu and former chief reporter Farzana Rupa have been named as accused.