Efforts under way to bring Benazir back through diplomatic channels: home minister

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said that the issue of former police chief Benazir Ahmed’s release on bail in the UAE has come to the fore amid diplomatic efforts to bring him back to Bangladesh to stand trial.

Benazir is more likely to be brought back through diplomatic channels than through legal channels because he holds citizenship in another country.

In response to a question in this regard from the media at the Secretariat on Monday, Salahuddin said: "That process is ongoing, but he may have the right to go to the court there, so he did. We are trying to bring him back through diplomatic channels."

"The UAE court granted him conditional bail on the condition that he cannot leave the country. After learning about the matter, we informed the law firm we have engaged. The secretary spoke to the ambassador. The law firm has been asked to submit a certified copy regarding the conditions on which he was granted bail and to apply to the court to scrap the bail."

"It is suspected that Benazir Ahmed may have passports from other countries," the home minister said in response to another question.

Asked if a bomb had been found under the metro rail, the minister said: "Our law enforcing agencies had done enough to ensure the security for the Rath Yatra. However, unfortunately, on the day of the Rath Yatra, a bomb-like object was found under a pillar of the metro rail. It was later deactivated, so there is no reason for alarm."

Some quarters may have tried to destroy communal harmony and efforts are being made to investigate and find who is behind this, he said.

Referring to the discovery of a bomb in a bag in Ashulia, he said: "We have been asked to investigate whether there is any connection between these incidents. However, compared to previous times, such incidents are far lower at this time. Still, I am cautious.

“Those who address these issues and monitor extremist activities or communal harmony, they have special teams. They are cautious about this."

In response to a question about US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor's visit to Bangladesh, Salahuddin said: "He himself has given a statement that he is optimistic and confident about the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The United States has confidence in our Prime Minister. He has expressed satisfaction that progress is being made in Bangladesh under his leadership."

The home minister was asked whether police have been asked to be vigilant about the activities of the banned Awami League.

He said, “That is not exactly the case. There is always an instruction to the police force that things such as vehicles are not left unattended. An entire team should not go for tea together. Everyone should not leave the car while taking a rest. Everyone should stay vigilant. This is normal practice."

Asked about the Awami League’s activities in August, the minister said: "I do not think the Awami League has that much ambition. It is a banned party, a mafia power. Still, they are occasionally making threats from abroad. We are not seeing anything more than that.