ACC begins process to bring back Benazir from UAE

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Tuesday initiated the necessary process to bring back former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed, who was recently arrested in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), under the existing prisoner transfer framework.

ACC Deputy Director Aktarul Islam confirmed the development to journalists.

According to ACC officials, the required documents have already been handed over to Bangladesh’s National Central Bureau (NCB), which is coordinating the extradition process with the relevant authorities.

As part of the legal and diplomatic efforts, two representatives of the NCB) visited the ACC headquarters on Tuesday and held discussions with ACC officials regarding the ongoing cases against Benazir Ahmed, arrest warrants issued by the courts, judicial orders, and other necessary documentation.

ACC officials said details of the corruption and illicit wealth accumulation cases filed against the former police chief, along with court orders and supporting documents, have been provided to the NCB. The documents will be sent through diplomatic channels via the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the concerned authorities in the UAE.

The extradition efforts are being pursued under the bilateral extradition arrangement and international legal cooperation mechanisms, officials added.

Earlier, Home Adviser Salahuddin Ahmed informed Parliament on Sunday that UAE police arrested Benazir Ahmed on June 12 and that he is currently in custody there. Under UAE federal law, a formal extradition request must be submitted through diplomatic channels within 30 days of the arrest. Relevant government agencies are now preparing the required documents to meet the deadline.

Benazir Ahmed, a former police chief, is facing multiple cases involving corruption, money laundering, and passport forgery. An Interpol Red Notice was issued against him on April 11, 2025, following a request from Bangladesh Police Headquarters.

He was reportedly arrested on June 12 while transiting through Dubai International Airport after arriving from London. Authorities allegedly identified his location through an artificial intelligence-based surveillance system, leading to his detention.