Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed has been arrested in Dubai by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) police in connection with a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed disclosed the development in Parliament on Sunday in a statement delivered under rule 300 of the Rules of proceedings in the Jatiya Sangsad (JS). He said the UAE authorities informed Bangladesh government of the arrest on June 12.
“We will bring back Benazir Ahmed, back to Bangladesh soon," the minister said, describing it as a great success of Bangladesh Police. In April 2025, the Interpol issued a red notice against the former police chief. "I am informing the House and the entire nation that former IGP Benazir Ahmed, who is accused in corruption cases, has been arrested by the police authorities of the United Arab Emirates and is currently being held in custody there," he said.
According to information from Abu Dhabi, he said, the arrest was made in compliance with international legal procedures following the Interpol notice.
The Home Minister described the arrest as a "historic success" of Bangladesh Police and said the development would help the country emerge from the longstanding culture of impunity and lawlessness.
"This is a historic success of Bangladesh Police. Through this achievement, we will be able to come out of the culture of impunity and lawlessness," he told the House amid desk thumping by the lawmakers across the board.
The minister said the government, after assuming office, had taken determined steps to ensure that Benazir Ahmed, accused in corruption cases, could not evade justice despite remaining abroad.
"After the current government assumed office, the National Central Bureau (NCB) Dhaka under Police Headquarters was assigned to work closely with Interpol to secure the arrest of former IGP Benazir Ahmed, who is accused in corruption cases," he said.
He informed Parliament that NCB Dhaka formally requested Interpol on April 11, 2025, to issue a Red Notice against Benazir Ahmed. Following extensive coordination, Interpol issued the Red Notice and requested the UAE Ministry of Interior to take necessary action for his arrest.
The Home Minister said Bangladesh received official confirmation of the arrest on June 12, 2026, through an email sent by the Directorate General of Federal Criminal Police, National Central Bureau (NCB) Abu Dhabi.
He further said UAE authorities had informed Bangladesh that under the UAE Federal Law No. 39 of 2006, a formal extradition request must be submitted through diplomatic channels within 30 days from the date of arrest.
He said Benazir Ahmed is facing a number of criminal proceedings in Bangladesh under sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 of the Penal Code, relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, and Section 11 of the Bangladesh Passport Order, 1973.
The Home Minister said all relevant government agencies were already working in close coordination to complete the legal and diplomatic formalities required for his return.
He noted that NCB Dhaka had successfully completed a series of complex international coordination activities, including obtaining the Interpol Red Notice, maintaining communication with foreign authorities, and carrying out follow-up actions after the arrest.
The Interpol Red Notice shows that it was issued against Benazir on Apr 11, 2025, under Control Number A-5174/4-2025.
The notice describes him as a "fugitive wanted for prosecution" and identifies him as both "dangerous" and an "escape risk".
According to the Red Notice, Benazir submitted a wealth statement to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Aug 27, 2024, declaring assets worth Tk 114.23 million, including Tk 56.74 million in immovable property and Tk 57.49 million in movable assets.
However, ACC investigators later found evidence that he had concealed assets worth Tk 26.29 million and accumulated wealth worth Tk 94.46 million that was allegedly inconsistent with known sources of income.
Based on those findings, a case was filed against him under Sections 26(2) and 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004. On May 3 this year, a Dhaka court framed charges in the case and ordered the trial to begin.
The Red Notice also refers to alleged offences 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 that case, Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's Court issued an arrest warrant against Benazir on Feb 12, 2025. The warrant later formed the basis for the Interpol Red Notice. Apart from the illicit wealth case, Benazir also faces a separate passport fraud case.
The case, filed on Oct 14, 2024, includes charges under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 109 of the Penal Code, Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, and Section 11 of the Bangladesh Passport Order, 1973.
On Feb 20, 2025, the same court issued another arrest warrant against him following a petition by ACC Deputy Director Mohammad Zainal Abedin, the investigating officer in the case.
According to the court order, Benazir applied for passports on multiple occasions while serving as a government official, including as deputy inspector general, additional inspector general, director general of RAB and commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
