The government is considering how to bring back ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been sentenced to death by the International Criminal Tribunal, from India.
Although Bangladesh has an extradition treaty with India, it is considered unlikely that Sheikh Hasina will be brought back through it.
The government has previously written to the Indian government requesting her return; but Delhi did not pay any attention to this.
Observers believe that due to India’s lack of goodwill, the chances of bringing Hasina back as per the extradition treaty are slim.
Therefore, the government’s main reliance in trying to bring her back is reportedly on the international police organization Interpol. Two letters have already been sent to this organization.
There has been no response yet. The government is going to send another letter after the verdict. This is undoubtedly a significant step.
When an accused or criminal hides across the country’s borders, the path to bringing him back was blocked by bilateral diplomacy, legal complications, and the vagaries of international law.
In this situation, the Interpol Red Notice effectively became the government’s last resort.
Interpol provides a global network to facilitate the identification, tracking, and arrest of criminals among its member countries.
It does not carry any arrest powers, but the red notice it issues activates law enforcement agencies in almost all countries around the world to simultaneously search for the accused.
When extradition treaties do not yield quick results, Interpol uses pressure to narrow the scope for the accused to flee from one country to another.
It must be remembered that accused persons or criminals abroad often resort to legal complications, political asylum, or long-term legal battles. Interpol does not interfere in the judicial or political processes of any country.
The final process for bringing back an accused or criminal after his/her arrest is governed by the extradition laws of the country concerned.
In this regard, the preparedness of Bangladesh’s legal and judicial departments, the strength of the evidence presented, and diplomatic activity in the international arena are of great importance.
We hope that the Interpol-based initiative to bring back Sheikh Hasina will be successful.
On the one hand, the government will give utmost importance to the international process of Interpol; likewise, there should be no laxity in diplomatic activities and legal preparations.
It must be remembered that Interpol is only a supporting organization, and the ultimate success will depend on the determination, expertise and goodwill of the government. This will certainly be a strong message for criminals fleeing justice.
