On Sunday, December 22, news claiming that Interpol had issued a Red Notice against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina quickly spread across various media outlets and social networking platforms.
Reports based on this claim were broadcasted in the media. Check the following coverage by Ekattor TV, Somoy TV (YouTube), Ekushey TV, Channel 24 (YouTube), RTV, Deepto News, Mohona TV, Nagorik TV (Facebook), Kalbela, Naya Diganta, Samakal, Kaler Kantho, Inqilab, Jaijaidin (YouTube), Desh Rupantor (YouTube), The Financial Express, Dainik Amader Shomoy, Manabkantha, Janakantha, Daily Sun, Observer BD, Dainik Sangram, Bangladesh Journal (Facebook), Thikana News (Facebook), Face the People (Facebook), The Daily Campus (Facebook), Daily Bangladesh, Zoom Bangla, Dhaka Prakash (Facebook), The Bangladesh Moments, Bangladesh Times and Bangladesh Times (Facebook), Naya Shatabdi, Dhaka Times, Delta Times, Amader Shomoy.com, Samprotik Deshkal, Sarabangla, Alokito Bangladesh, MTNews24, JustNewsBD, Amar Sangbad, Sangbad, News G24, Barta Bazar, Swadesh Protidin, Share News24, BD24Live, Business Bangladesh, Protidiner Sangbad, Janamat, Protidiner Chitra BD.com, Natun Shomoy, Deshe Bideshe, Artha Sangbad, 24 Live Newspaper (Facebook), and BD24Live.com (Facebook).
Posts related to the claim, shared by various media outlets on Facebook can be viewed here (archive), here (archive), and here (archive).
YouTube videos related to the claim can be seen here (archive).
In addition, media outlets such as Bangla Vision, Jugantor, Dhaka Post, Bayanno TV, Somoyer Alo, Ajkaler Khobor, Dhaka Mail, Sangbad Prakash, Ekushey Sangbad, Amar Barta, Somoyer Kanthosor, Bbarta24, SunBD24, and Khabar Songjog initially published reports on the claim but later revised or removed them.
Indian media outlets also reported on the claim. See reports by Kolkata 24×7, Hindustan Times, Ei Muhurte, and Zee 24 Ghanta (Facebook).
Netizens also shared posts on this claim on Facebook. See examples here (archive) and here (archive).
Fact-Check
An investigation by the Rumor Scanner Team confirmed that the news claiming Interpol issued a Red Notice against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is false. A detailed review of Interpol’s website found no evidence to support the claim. Furthermore, the Bangladesh Police Headquarters confirmed to Rumor Scanner that they do not have any information about such a notice.
The investigation included a search of Interpol’s website (archived version here) for Bangladeshi nationals with public Red Notices, identifying 63 individuals wanted for crimes such as murder and distributing pornographic content. Notably, Sheikh Hasina’s name was not on the list.
During the investigation into the origins of the circulated claim, it was found that on Sunday, December 22, Mohammad Tazul Islam, Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, made a statement to journalists alleging that Interpol had issued a Red Notice against Sheikh Hasina, labeling her the primary accused in a genocide case. (1, 2, 3)
However, shortly after, discrepancies became apparent in the Chief Prosecutor’s statement during a briefing with journalists. He stated: “It is the responsibility of the National Central Bureau (NCB) and the Office of the Inspector General of Police to confirm whether Interpol has issued the Red Notice. We cannot definitively state if it has been issued through them or published on Interpol’s website.”
Following this, the Rumor Scanner Team contacted Enamul Haque Sagor, the Additional Inspector General (AIG) of Media & Public Relations at Bangladesh Police Headquarters. He stated that as of December 22, the Police Headquarters had no information regarding the issuance of such a Red Notice.
Earlier, on November 10, during an inspection of progress on the reform of the International Crimes Tribunal, Interim Government Legal Adviser Professor Dr. Asif Nazrul mentioned (archive) that “Red Notices are being issued through Interpol to capture Sheikh Hasina and other fugitives abroad for the July-August genocide charges.” Two days later, on November 12, Chief Prosecutor Tazul Islam disclosed (archive) that the International Crimes Tribunal had sent a letter to Interpol requesting a Red Alert Notice to arrest former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on charges of crimes against humanity.
Interpol, the International Criminal Police Organization, facilitates collaboration among the police forces of its 196 member states. It supports the exchange of information on crimes and criminals while also offering technological and operational assistance. A Red Notice (archived details here) is a request to locate, arrest, or take legal action against a person. However, a Red Notice is not an international arrest warrant. It means the person is being sought by member countries or an international tribunal. Each member country decides, based on its laws, whether and when to arrest the individual.
Conclusion
The investigation unequivocally concludes that the claim about Interpol issuing a Red Notice against Sheikh Hasina is entirely false.
Sources
- INTERPOL – View Red Notices
- Prothom Alo – Chief Prosecutor prioritizes investigation into Sheikh Hasina’s case
- Statement by Enamul Haque Sagor, AIG (Media & Public Relations)
- Analysis by Rumor Scanner
