Benazir's extradition from UAE may take months despite progress

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed, who has been detained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for more than six weeks, may take several more months to be extradited to Bangladesh despite progress in the process, officials and legal experts have said.

The UAE government has, in principle, agreed to hand over the former police chief to Bangladesh, according to Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) spokesperson Md Akhtarul Islam.

Following a preliminary review of documents related to the cases for which Interpol issued a Red Notice against Benazir, Dubai Police has contacted the Bangladeshi authorities seeking additional legal and technical documents required for the extradition process.

Since the cases are being investigated by the ACC, its investigators are preparing the requested documents, Police Headquarters spokesperson AHM Shahadat Hossain said.

ACC officials said the document preparation is almost complete and will soon be forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs before being sent to Dubai Police through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Interpol.

Extradition depends on legal and diplomatic processes

Legal experts said Benazir's return would largely depend on four factors: the availability of sufficient evidence, compatibility between the laws of Bangladesh and the UAE, judicial proceedings in the UAE, and diplomatic engagement between the two countries.

Lawyer Olora Afrin, who practises in the UAE, said the UAE court would examine whether the alleged offences are recognised as crimes under Emirati law and whether the charges are politically motivated before deciding on extradition.

The court will also hear arguments from both sides before issuing a ruling, she said, adding that diplomatic efforts could play a significant role in the final outcome.

Cases against Benazir

Benazir Ahmed served as director general of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from January 2015 to April 2020 before becoming IGP, a position he held until September 2022.

The ACC launched investigations into allegations of corruption against him after media reports surfaced in 2024. He subsequently left Bangladesh for Dubai.

The commission has filed six cases against him, including those related to illicit wealth and passport forgery. Investigations are also underway into allegations of crimes against humanity before the International Crimes Tribunal.

Benazir was arrested by Dubai Police on 12 June after Interpol issued a Red Notice at Bangladesh's request.

Bangladesh initially sent a 144-page dossier in English and Arabic, including case details, preliminary evidence and arrest warrants. Authorities are now preparing a second batch of documents required for the extradition proceedings.

Citizenship issue could complicate process

Experts cautioned that extradition could become more complicated if Benazir has acquired foreign citizenship.

Media reports have claimed that he obtained Turkish citizenship through investment and also has investments in the UAE. However, neither UAE authorities nor Benazir has publicly confirmed those reports.

Former Gulf News Associate Editor Saifur Rahman said the defence could argue against extradition if Benazir is a legal resident of the UAE and has committed no offence there.

However, lawyer Olora Afrin said investment or residency alone would not necessarily prevent extradition and that Bangladesh's diplomatic efforts would remain crucial.

Government optimistic

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed recently said Bangladesh did not expect the extradition process to be overly complicated.

He noted that although Bangladesh does not have a bilateral extradition treaty with the UAE, both countries are parties to international conventions that allow cooperation in criminal matters.

Officials, however, said it is still too early to predict when the former police chief could be brought back.

"Since the process has only just begun, it is not possible to say with certainty how long it will take," ACC spokesperson Akhtarul Islam said.

A senior Home Ministry official indicated that completing the legal formalities and securing Benazir's return could take several more months.

Bangladesh has previously succeeded in repatriating fugitives from the UAE through security cooperation agreements and Interpol mechanisms, although many wanted suspects remain abroad despite Red Notices.