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The Ministry of Home Affairs has started preparing a summary of the cases filed against former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed as part of efforts to bring him back from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
According to ministry sources, the political wing of the ministry is compiling the summary. Once completed, it will be sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which will forward it to the UAE government as part of the repatriation process.
Contacted, Additional Secretary (Political Wing) Dr Ziauddin Ahmed told the Daily Sun that the process has not yet formally begun.
“We will need some time as there are legal issues that the UAE authorities must address first. Once those procedures are completed, the Home Ministry will take initiatives through the Foreign Ministry to bring him back,” he said.
Despite the government's efforts, legal experts and law enforcement officials say significant challenges remain because Bangladesh does not have an extradition treaty with the UAE.
An assistant inspector general of police, requesting anonymity, however, said Bangladesh and the UAE signed an agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons,
commonly known as a prisoner-exchange pact, on 27 October 2014.
He then added that diplomatic efforts remain an option, but even if the UAE government agrees to send Benazir back, any petition filed before the country’s highest court alleging possible human rights violations could complicate the process.
Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Mohammad Aminul Islam said Bangladesh could seek cooperation under the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act, 2012.
“Bangladesh and the UAE maintain good relations. If he is requested to return through diplomatic channels based on that relationship, positive results may be achieved,” he said.
Former ICT Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam also said there is a possibility of bringing Benazir back through an extradition request based on bilateral relations.
Benazir was arrested in Dubai on 12 June after Interpol issued a Red Notice at the request of the Bangladesh government.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed told parliament on Sunday that the government was taking the necessary steps to bring the former police chief back to face trial.
ICT to send warrants to Interpol
At a press briefing on Monday, Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam said Benazir is wanted in 10 cases before the International Crimes Tribunal and is facing arrest warrants in three of them.
He said the warrants would be forwarded to Interpol through the National Central Bureau (NCB) of Bangladesh Police.
According to him, proceedings in one case are already underway, while the investigation into the 2013 Shapla Chattar mass killing is nearing completion.
Formal charges have also been prepared against Benazir in connection with the killing of former Teknaf councillor Akramul Haque and will be submitted soon.
The chief prosecutor said investigations are continuing into six to seven other cases involving allegations of enforced disappearance, torture and extrajudicial killings.
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