Govt pursues Benazir extradition
The Bangladesh government has initiated legal efforts to cancel the conditional bail granted to former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed by a court in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as it seeks to bring the fugitive former police chief back to the country to face corruption charges.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said on Sunday that the government has appointed a law firm in Dubai to challenge the bail order and pursue Benazir’s return to Bangladesh.
Benazir Ahmed was released from a Dubai prison on Thursday after completing legal formalities, following a UAE court’s decision to grant him conditional bail on Monday, July 27, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with officers and personnel of police units organised by Rajshahi Range and Rajshahi Metropolitan Police at the Rajshahi Police Lines Drill Shed, the minister said the government is also working to obtain certified copies of relevant court documents.
“We hope the bail will be cancelled and that we will be able to bring him back to Bangladesh,” Salahuddin Ahmed said.
Deputy Foreign Minister Shama Obaed also expressed optimism that Benazir Ahmed would eventually be returned to Bangladesh, describing his release on bail as part of the UAE’s judicial process.
Speaking to journalists after an event at Hotel Sonargaon in Dhaka, she said the UAE authorities had sought additional information regarding Benazir Ahmed, which Bangladesh has already provided.
“We are maintaining communication with the UAE authorities and hope the accused will soon be brought back to Bangladesh to face trial,” she said.
According to media reports, the Dubai court granted Benazir conditional bail subject to several restrictions, including the surrender of his passport to the court and a prohibition on leaving the UAE without prior permission.
However, Police Headquarters said it had not yet received official confirmation of the reported bail conditions.
Sources said lawyers representing both sides presented arguments before the Dubai court on extradition documents and legal proceedings submitted by the Bangladesh government before the court decided to grant conditional bail.
Neither the UAE authorities nor Bangladesh Police Headquarters has issued an official statement on the court’s decision, while the relevant department at Police Headquarters declined to comment.
Benazir Ahmed was arrested in Dubai in connection with a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), with the operation conducted with the assistance of Dubai Police and Interpol.
Dubai Police formally informed the Bangladesh authorities of the arrest through a letter dated June 12.
The ACC has filed multiple cases against the former police chief over allegations of illicit wealth accumulation and money laundering. International legal action against him forms part of the ongoing investigation into those allegations.
Benazir Ahmed served as Inspector General of Police from April 15, 2020, to September 30, 2022. He previously served as Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and Director General of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
In December 2021, the United States imposed sanctions on seven current and former RAB officials, including Benazir Ahmed, over alleged human rights violations.
Corruption allegations against Benazir emerged several months before the Awami League government was ousted during the 2024 mass uprising, prompting the ACC to launch an investigation.
He subsequently left the country. Multiple criminal cases have since been filed against him, and a Bangladeshi court has issued an arrest warrant that remains in force.
