DHAKA: The Government of Bangladesh has initiated diplomatic and legal procedures to extradite the former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Benazir Ahmed, following his arrest in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Ahmed, who faces multiple charges of corruption and passport fraud, was apprehended on 12 June with the assistance of Interpol.
Akhtarul Islam, the Deputy Director (Media) of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), disclosed the operational details during a press briefing held on Sunday afternoon at the ACC headquarters in Segunbagicha, Dhaka. According to the commission, the Ministry of Home Affairs had previously formally requested Interpol to issue a Red Notice to facilitate Ahmed’s arrest, which subsequently led to his detention in Dubai.
Legal Proceedings and Asset Seizures
The former police chief is currently implicated in six separate criminal cases overseen by the anti-graft watchdog. Out of these legal actions, a primary case concerning the acquisition of non-declared wealth valued at 14.62 crore BDT has already advanced to the trial phase following the formal submission of a charge sheet.
The remaining five cases remain under active investigation. Cumulatively, these ongoing investigations involve allegations of accumulating non-declared assets worth approximately 76 crore BDT. Furthermore, the ACC confirmed that Ahmed, despite holding status as a senior government official, systematically bypassed regulatory protocols to fraudulently acquire multiple private civilian passports.
The ACC initially launched its inquiry into Ahmed’s financial records last year after allegations of large-scale corruption became public. Subsequent legal filings by the commission accused Ahmed and his immediate family members of accumulating illicit wealth, concealing extensive asset profiles, and engaging in institutional financial irregularities. Following explicit judicial directives issued during the investigation, state authorities froze and attached substantial movable and immovable properties registered under the names of Ahmed and his family. The seized assets include multiple residential apartments in Dhaka, hundreds of bighas of land spread across various districts, corporate shareholdings, active bank accounts, and national savings certificates.
Background and Institutional Career
The legal escalation follows a directive from the judiciary in February this year, which ordered the issuance of an Interpol Red Notice to secure Ahmed’s arrest after he left the jurisdiction of the country.
Benazir Ahmed served as the Inspector General of Police from April 2020 until his retirement in September 2022. Prior to his tenure as the head of the national police force, he held several high-profile security positions within the state apparatus, serving as the Director General of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and as the Commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). The Ministry of Home Affairs has indicated that it is working to complete the necessary formal paperwork to ensure a swift repatriation process.
Summary of Legal Status and Financial Allegations
Table 1: Case Load and Financial Liabilities
| Category of Metric | Verified Case Details and Figures |
| Total Active Cases Filed | 6 criminal cases |
| Case in Trial Phase | 1 case involving 14.62 crore BDT in non-declared assets |
| Cases Under Investigation | 5 cases involving approximately 76 crore BDT |
| Primary Criminal Charges | Accumulation of illicit wealth, asset concealment, and passport fraud |
| Date of Arrest in Dubai | 12 June |
Table 2: Types of Judicial Asset Seizures
| Asset Category | Specific Form of Judicial Restraint |
| Real Estate | Multiple apartments in Dhaka; hundreds of bighas of land in various districts |
| Financial Instruments | Corporate shares, commercial bank accounts, and national savings certificates |
| Legal Status of Assets | Attached, frozen, and blocked via explicit court orders |