Published: 12:30 AM, 16 June 2026
Tribunal probes 10 charges against ex-IGP Benazir
The International Crimes Tribunal prosecution has said at least 10 cases involving enforced disappearances, killings and genocide are being investigated against former inspector general of police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed, who is currently under arrest in Dubai.
The state has also begun legal and diplomatic procedures through the National Central Bureau (NCB) and Interpol to bring him back to the country.
At a briefing on Monday at the tribunal's prosecution office, Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam detailed Benazir's arrest, the number and nature of cases against him, and the extradition process, reports bdnews24.com.
Supreme Court lawyer M Abdul Kaiyum and former IGP Baharul Islam also spoke on different aspects of the legal proceedings.
Chief Prosecutor Aminul said, "There are about 10 cases against him here. We are investigating each of them and there is a clear connection with him in every case. When he was RAB chief, the ongoing cases of enforced disappearances were already under trial."
Describing Benazir as one of the "key actors" in the Shapla Chattar incident, Aminul said: "Our investigation is in its final stage. In the Ekram Commissioner murder case in Chattogram, he was directly involved, and he is also named there. At least seven to 10 more cases are under investigation, all showing his direct involvement."
Alleging widespread killings, Aminul added: "As RAB chief, he was involved in numerous killings. Later, as IGP, he was linked to many crimes."
He said copies of tribunal warrants have already been sent to the police's special branch, the NCB, to initiate extradition steps.
"We will send an official letter. We have already provided warrant copies to the government. We believe the police agency responsible for sending red notices or colour-coded notices via Interpol has received them. We will send the letter from our investigation agency to the NCB, and from there it will go to Interpol," he added.
Acting on an Interpol Red Notice, the Dubai Police arrested Benazir Ahmed on 12 June in connection with a corruption case, according to a government announcement. The question now remains: how quickly can he be brought back to Bangladesh?
The National Central Bureau (NCB) serves as the primary liaison and coordinating body for each member state of Interpol. In Bangladesh, the NCB is situated at Police Headquarters, where it facilitates the exchange of intelligence and the apprehension of international criminals and fugitives.
The ACC formed a committee on April 18, 2024, to investigate allegations regarding Benazir's wealth. Within weeks, he left the country. Subsequent investigations found that he flew to Dubai on a Singapore Airlines flight from Dhaka at around 11:40pm on May 4.
Analysis of airport CCTV footage showed Benazir completing airport formalities with the assistance of several police personnel. A uniformed officer and a female officer in plain clothes escorted him to the security screening area, while another officer followed behind. No family members were seen with him.
He was wearing a gold-coloured short-sleeved shirt, dark trousers and black shoes.
Footage from the final checkpoint indicated that Benazir was allowed to pass without undergoing the physical search routinely conducted by Ansar personnel for ordinary passengers, raising questions over whether standard procedures were waived in his case.
The footage also showed immigration and security officials completing the necessary formalities and returning his passport and luggage before he proceeded to board the aircraft. Moments before departure, he was seen waving goodbye to several police officers present at the airport.
One of the most influential figures in Bangladesh Police, Benazir served as inspector general of police from April 2020 to September 2022. Earlier, he was director general of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from January 2015 to April 2020 and also served as commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).
Known for his close ties to the Awami League government, Benazir continued to receive state-provided security benefits after retirement. Under a Home Ministry notification, he was assigned a six-member plainclothes police team and a vehicle, along with two armed bodyguards and three security personnel at his residence.
