US NEWS: How will Benazir be brought back from Dubai, what is the past experience?

 How will Benazir be brought back from Dubai, what is the past experience?

The arrest of former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, has once again raised the issue of bringing back powerful fugitives abroad.

Dubai police arrested Benazir Ahmed on June 12 on the basis of an Interpol red notice in a corruption case, the government said. Now the question is, how quickly can she be brought back to Bangladesh?

The central liaison and coordination agency for each member country with Interpol is the National Central Bureau (NCB). In Bangladesh, it is located at the police headquarters and works to exchange information and arrest international criminals and fugitives.

Prothom Alo spoke to five officials who have worked in the NCB in the past and are currently working on the issue of returning Benazir Ahmed. They gave an idea of ​​the entire process.

Police officials concerned say that Benazir's arrest is definitely a big step for Bangladesh. However, this is not the last step, a person can be identified or arrested in a police red notice; but sending her back to her home country depends on the laws, courts, extradition treaties, diplomatic activities and the admissibility of the case documents of the country where she was arrested.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed told Parliament on Sunday that a formal extradition request must be sent through diplomatic channels within 30 days from the date of arrest to return Benazir Ahmed. The Home Ministry will prepare and approve the extradition proposal and send a formal extradition request to the UAE authorities through diplomatic channels through the Foreign Ministry.

The Home Minister said that the NCB will coordinate with the authorities in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the Emirates. He is hopeful that Benazir Ahmed can be brought back to Bangladesh very soon.

What happens if there is a red notice

Many people have a common misconception about Interpol's red notice—that it is an international arrest warrant. In reality, it is not.

A red notice is a request to Interpol member countries to identify, locate, and temporarily detain a fugitive person if necessary. Its basis is an arrest warrant or judicial order from the court of the relevant country.

In other words, the issuance of a red notice against Benazir Ahmed and her arrest in Dubai—two big steps have been crossed; but the decision to send her to Bangladesh will be taken by the Emirates court.

Bangladesh now has to prove that the case against Benazir is not one of political vendetta; it is a judicial process for corruption, illegal assets, fraud, money laundering or related crimes. At the same time, it must be shown that she will get justice in Bangladesh.