Court directs Interpol assistanceArrest warrant issued against ex-IGP Benazir over graft charges

A Dhaka court on Monday issued an arrest warrant against former inspector general of police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed over graft charges.

Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Zakir Hossain Galib passed the order, following a plea of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The court instructed that the arrest warrant be executed with the assistance of Interpol.

ACC Deputy Director Hafizul Islam filed the plea with the court, stating that the former IGP is currently abroad and should be brought to justice. He requested that an arrest warrant be issued against him through Interpol, given his foreign whereabouts.

On 15 December last year, the ACC filed separate cases against Benazir Ahmed, his wife, and two daughters for acquiring illegal assets worth Tk74 crore and concealing information about their wealth.

The cases allege that Benazir acquired assets worth Tk9.44 crore beyond his known income and concealed information about Tk2.62 crore worth of assets.

His wife, Jishan Mirza, allegedly amassed Tk31.69 crore in illegal assets and concealed information about Tk16.01 crore worth of assets. Their elder daughter, Farheen Rishta Binte Benazir, reportedly acquired Tk8.75 crore in illegal assets, while their younger daughter, Tahseen Raisha Binte Benazir, amassed Tk5.59 crore.

On 12 June last year, the court ordered the seizure of eight flats and 27 bighas of land registered under Benazir Ahmed, his wife, and children. The flats are located in the Badda and Adabar areas of Dhaka, while the lands are in Narayanganj, Bandarban, and Uttara.

Additionally, the court had ordered the confiscation of 621 bighas of land in Gopalganj and Madaripur, shares from 19 companies, and four flats in Gulshan. The court also ordered the freezing of Tk30 lakh in savings bonds, 33 bank accounts, and three beneficiary owner accounts belonging to Benazir and his family.

Benazir Ahmed served as the IGP from 15 April 2020 to 30 September 2022. Prior to that, he held the positions of Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and Director General of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). Benazir and his family left the country on 4 May of last year.