Bangladesh Election Commission's National Identity Registration Wing has "locked" former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's National Identity Card and nine others belonging to her family members, the local media reported on Monday. The EC took the move at an internal instruction, local media reports stated.
EC officials clarified that NIDs are typically "locked" when an individual registers as a voter using false information or if there is an ongoing investigation involving the NID holder.
The decision to lock the NIDs of the 10 individuals was based on a verbal instruction from ASM Humayn Kabir, the Director General of the National Identity Registration Wing, as reported by Bangladeshi media outlet UNB. The source further stated that it is still not clear if the directive was issued by the Election Commission Secretariat directly.
When an NID is locked, it cannot be utilized, and it stays locked until any investigation or inquiry into the holder is over. NIDs are mostly locked at the behest of VVIPs to avoid misuse. The cards can be unlocked on their request once the investigation is over, as per Mohammad Ashraf Hossain, System Manager of the NID Wing, as reported by BDnews 24.
Along with this move, Bangladesh has gone to Interpol to seek a 'Red Notice' for Sheikh Hasina and 11 others. This is in reference to a case of conspiracy to topple the interim government of Muhammad Yunus. "These applications are made on the basis of allegations made during investigations or as part of ongoing legal proceedings," said Assistant Inspector General Enamul Haque Sagor, reported by The Dhaka Tribune.
If the 'Red Notice' is published, it would enable global law enforcement agencies to find and provisionally arrest the individuals concerned, subject to extradition or other proceedings.
Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Bangladesh's founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, flew out of the country on August 5 last year, after a huge student uprising led to the downfall of her 16-year regime with the Awami League. The overthrown Prime Minister blamed the interim government headed by Yunus for turning the country into a "hub of terrorism" and "lawlessness" in February, in a virtual speech to her supporters.
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