Published: 12:14 AM, 17 June 2026
ACC sends documents to ministry as Dhaka moves to bring back ex IGP Benazir
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has forwarded documents to the home ministry through Bangladesh's National Central Bureau (NCB), initiating the process to repatriate former police chief Benazir Ahmed, who has been arrested in the United Arab Emirates.
The case files include complaints filed against Benazir, arrest warrants, court orders and investigation-related documents.
ACC spokesperson Akhtarul Islam told reporters on Tuesday that the required papers had already been sent to the home ministry.
"From there, they will be forwarded through the foreign ministry and sent to the relevant UAE authorities via diplomatic channels," he said.
Officials said two NCB officers have been working with the ACC for the past two days to advance the legal and diplomatic process of bringing him back.
They reviewed ongoing cases, court orders, arrest warrants and other documentation required for extradition.
All relevant documents, including FIRs, court orders, applicable legal provisions, investigation files, passport and national identity records, and identity verification papers, have been prepared, reports bdnews24.com.
Translations into English and Arabic have also been attached as required by UAE authorities.
On Sunday, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed told parliament under rule 300 of the Rules of Procedure that Benazir was arrested in the UAE on Jun 12.
Citing a letter from the Abu Dhabi NCB, he said under Article 11 of UAE Federal Law No. 39 of 2006, an official extradition request must be sent through diplomatic channels within 30 days of arrest.
He added that the request must include the accused's identity and photograph, nationality, address, relevant legal provisions, details of punishment, arrest warrants issued by courts, case details and investigation documents.
These must be translated into Arabic and duly signed and sealed by the relevant authorities.
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.
