Interpol issues red notice against former police chief Benazir Ahmed

The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) has issued a red notice for Benazir Ahmed, the former inspector general of police (IGP), who is currently living abroad while facing a series of serious allegations, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, murder, and corruption.

The notice was issued on Apr 10, Assistant Inspector General Enamul Haque Sagar of the Police Headquarters' Public Relations and Media Wing, said on Tuesday.

However, Benazir’s name and photo have not yet appeared on Interpol’s official website.

“Most red notices are restricted and accessible only to law-enforcing agencies,” Sagar told bdnews24.com.

“Once certain formalities are completed, Benazir Ahmed’s name will also appear on Interpol’s website.”

This is the first time Interpol has issued a red notice against a former IGP of Bangladesh.

Benazir served as Bangladesh’s police chief from April 2020 to September 2022. Prior to that, he headed the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from January 2015 to April 2020.

According to Interpol, a red notice is a process through which law-enforcing agencies around the world are asked to locate and temporarily detain individuals who are the subject of extradition or surrender procedures.

It is not an international arrest warrant.