SANGSAD BHABAN : Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed today said in parliament that former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed, who is facing multiple corruption cases in Bangladesh, has been arrested by the authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and would be brought back to the country soon through the formal extradition process, reports BSS
“I am informing this august parliament and the entire
nation that former IGP Benazir Ahmed, who is accused in corruption cases, has
been arrested by the police authorities of the United Arab Emirates and is
currently being held in custody there,” he said, making a statement under Rule
300 of the Rules of Procedure at the beginning of the day’s proceedings in the
Jatiya Sangsad (JS) today.
According to information provided by NCB Abu Dhabi, he
said, the arrest was made in compliance with international legal procedures
following the Interpol notice.
The Home Minister described the arrest as a “historic
success” of Bangladesh Police and said the development would help the country
emerge from the longstanding culture of impunity and lawlessness.
“This is a historic success of Bangladesh Police. Through
this achievement, we will be able to come out of the culture of impunity and
lawlessness,” he told the House amid desk thumping by the lawmakers across the
board.
The minister said the government, after assuming office,
had taken determined steps to ensure that Benazir Ahmed, accused in corruption
cases, could not evade justice despite remaining abroad.
“After the current government assumed office, the National
Central Bureau (NCB) Dhaka under Police Headquarters was assigned to work
closely with Interpol to secure the arrest of former IGP Benazir Ahmed, who is
accused in corruption cases,” he said.
He informed Parliament that NCB Dhaka formally requested
Interpol on April 11, 2025, to issue a Red Notice against Benazir Ahmed.
Following extensive coordination, Interpol issued the Red Notice and requested
the UAE Ministry of Interior to take necessary action for his arrest.
The Home Minister said Bangladesh received official
confirmation of the arrest on June 12, 2026, through an email sent by the
Directorate General of Federal Criminal Police, National Central Bureau (NCB)
Abu Dhabi.
He further said UAE authorities had informed Bangladesh
that under the UAE Federal Law No. 39 of 2006, a formal extradition request
must be submitted through diplomatic channels within 30 days from the date of
arrest.
He said Benazir Ahmed is facing a number of criminal proceedings in Bangladesh under sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 of the Penal Code, relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, and Section 11 of the Bangladesh Passport Order, 1973.
