How will Benazir be brought back from UAE?

The government will have to submit a formal extradition request within 30 days to bring back former inspector general of police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed, who was recently arrested in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following an Interpol Red Notice.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed expressed hope that the former police chief, who is facing corruption charges in Bangladesh, could be brought back soon after completing the required legal and diplomatic procedures.

Informing parliament about the development on Sunday, the minister said UAE authorities officially notified Bangladesh that Benazir have been arrested and is currently in custody.

In a statement under Rule 300 of the Rules of Procedure, the minister said Bangladesh received an email on 12 June from the National Central Bureau (NCB) Abu Dhabi, operating under the UAE Ministry of Interior, confirming the arrest.

According to the minister, Bangladesh had earlier requested Interpol through the National Central Bureau at Police Headquarters in Dhaka to facilitate Benazir's arrest. As a result, Interpol issued a Red Notice against him on 11 April 2025, which ultimately led to his arrest by UAE police.

Explaining the next steps, Salahuddin Ahmed said UAE authorities informed Bangladesh that, under federal law, a formal extradition request must be submitted through diplomatic channels within 30 days of the arrest.

He said the Ministry of Home Affairs would approve the extradition proposal after preparing the necessary case documents, arrest warrants and investigation records. The request would then be formally forwarded to UAE authorities through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“We will bring him back to Bangladesh as quickly as possible in coordination with NCB Abu Dhabi,” the minister told parliament.

According to the Interpol Red Notice, Benazir Ahmed was listed as a “fugitive wanted for prosecution”. The notice, issued on 11 April 2025, carries control number A-5174/4-2025 and categorises him as both “dangerous” and an “escape risk”.

Benazir, who retired on 30 September 2022, is the first police officer in Bangladesh to have served as Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner, director general of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and later inspector general of police.

Referring to the arrest, the home minister said the development would help end the culture of impunity in the country.

“I want to assure the nation that no one is above the law, regardless of how powerful they may be,” he said.

He described the arrest as a milestone in strengthening the rule of law in Bangladesh.

According to the Red Notice, Benazir declared assets worth Tk11.42 crore in a wealth statement submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on 27 August 2024. The declaration included immovable assets worth Tk5.67 crore and movable assets worth Tk5.74 crore.

However, ACC investigations allegedly found that he had concealed assets worth Tk2.62 crore and acquired wealth worth Tk9.44 crore beyond known sources of income.

Based on those allegations, a case was filed against him under Sections 26(2) and 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004.

On 3 May this year, a Dhaka court framed charges against Benazir in the case and ordered the trial to begin.

The Interpol notice also referred to allegations under Sections 4(2) and 4(3) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012, as well as Section 109 of the Penal Code.

In connection with the case, the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s Court issued an arrest warrant against Benazir on 12 February 2025. The warrant later formed the basis for the Red Notice.

Apart from the illicit wealth case, Benazir also faces a passport fraud case. The case, filed on 14 October 2024, includes charges under multiple sections of the Penal Code, the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, and the Bangladesh Passport Order, 1973.

On 20 February 2025, the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s Court issued another arrest warrant against him in that case following an application by ACC Deputy Director Mohammad Zainal Abedin.

According to court documents, Benazir allegedly identified himself as a private employee while applying for passports on multiple occasions despite serving as a government official in senior positions, including deputy inspector general, additional IGP, RAB chief and DMP commissioner.

The court alleged that he obtained passports through fraudulent means without securing the required no-objection certificates from the authorities.

As Benazir had already left the country, law enforcement agencies were unable to execute the warrants, prompting the court to direct the government to seek Interpol's assistance in enforcing them.