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Published : 14 Jun 2026, 07:01 PM
Bangladesh is required to submit a formal extradition request within 30 days to secure the return of fugitive former inspector general of police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed, who has been arrested in the United Arab Emirates on an Interpol alert.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said he was hopeful that Benazir, who faces corruption charges in Bangladesh, could be brought back quickly once the required legal and diplomatic procedures are completed.
The minister told parliament on Sunday about Benazir’s arrest in the UAE.
In a statement under Rule 300 of the Rules of Procedure, he said the government had been informed through an email sent on Jun 12 by the National Central Bureau (NCB) Abu Dhabi under the UAE Ministry of Interior that Benazir had been arrested by local police and was currently in custody.
The home minister said Bangladesh's NCB at Police Headquarters had requested Interpol to issue a notice for Benazir's arrest.
Following that request, Interpol issued a Red Notice against him on Apr 11, 2025.
UAE authorities subsequently arrested him based on that notice.
Explaining the next steps, Salahuddin said: “NCB Abu Dhabi informed us that, under UAE federal law, a formal extradition request must be sent through diplomatic channels within 30 days from the date of arrest.”
He said the home ministry would prepare the necessary case documents, arrest warrants and investigation records before approving the extradition proposal. The formal request would then be sent to the UAE authorities through the foreign ministry.
“We will bring him back to Bangladesh as quickly as possible in coordination with NCB Abu Dhabi,” the minister said.
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.
The court said he falsely identified himself as a private-sector employee and obtained passports without securing the required departmental no-objection certificates, thereby acquiring them through fraudulent means.
As Benazir had already left the country, law-enforcing agencies were unable to arrest him.
The court therefore directed authorities to execute the warrant through Interpol with the assistance of the home ministry.
The home minister said the arrest demonstrated that no individual was above the law.
“I want to assure the nation that no matter how powerful an offender may be, nobody is above the law,” he said.
