Benazir syndicate yet to face justice

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed, one of the most powerful figures in law enforcement during the ousted Awami League government, was arrested in Dubai on 12 June 2026. The arrest was carried out by Dubai Police based on an Interpol Red Notice issued at Bangladesh’s request.

Following the arrest of former IGP Benazir Ahmed in Dubai, strong demands are growing that the entire syndicate involved in looting public money must be brought to trial.

The key members of this network are Cashier Sabbir alias Bikash Sabbir, Nazmus Sakib Jubayer, and Amzad Hossain Arju. They allegedly helped Benazir extort businessmen, purchase properties, register companies, and launder money abroad.

Cashier Sabbir, a UK citizen now living in London, owns a 2,242 square feet luxury apartment in Gulshan’s Rancon Icon Tower. He is also linked to properties including Shapiz, Flamingo, and several other investments made through the syndicate.

Amzad Hossain Arju, who previously worked as a marketing officer at Channel 1 television, also partnered with Sabbir and Benazir in multiple businesses and property deals.

Among the major properties acquired are the Savanna Eco Resort and Natural Park spanning 621 bighas in Gopalganj, which the district administration has already seized, and four luxury apartments bought by Benazir’s wife and daughter in the same Gulshan Rancon Icon Tower.

Benazir was also deeply involved in several businesses. He served as President of Dhaka Boat Club and held around 25% shares in Bhawal Resort & Spa in Gazipur. Both the Boat Club and Bhawal Resort have faced serious allegations of financial irregularities and land grabbing.

Key Allegations
Benazir Ahmed faces multiple cases, primarily investigated by the ACC, along with serious human rights-related charges. Major allegations include:
• Illegal Wealth Accumulation & Money Laundering: He is accused of amassing wealth far beyond his known sources of income as a public servant. Investigations have identified assets worth hundreds of crores of taka, including extensive landholdings (over 300+ bighas across districts like Gopalganj, Madaripur, Bandarban, etc.), multiple apartments (including luxury properties in Gulshan), buildings, and company shares.

A key ACC case involves acquisition of approximately Tk 14.62 crore (with broader probes covering up to Tk 76 crore or more in unexplained assets).

• Passport Fraud: He allegedly obtained Machine Readable Passports (MRP) and e-passports by concealing his police identity and falsely declaring his profession as a “private service employee” to bypass departmental clearances.

• Crimes Against Humanity: As former RAB chief, he faces trials at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) related to enforced disappearances, torture at facilities like the Task Force for Interrogation (TFI) cell, and the 2013 Hefazat-e-Islam crackdown at Shapla Chattar (where an arrest warrant was also issued alongside former PM Sheikh Hasina).

He has been under US sanctions for gross human rights violations linked to RAB operations.

• Other Issues: Land grabbing (allegedly targeting Hindu communities in Gopalganj area through intimidation and proxies), abuse of power, and irregularities during his tenure.

A chargesheet has been submitted in at least one major graft case, and trial proceedings have begun in Dhaka courts. He faces around six cases in total.