US-sanctioned ex-IGP Benazir arrested in Dubai, home minister tells JS
Bangladesh Police received an email from authorities in Dubai on Friday notifying them of the development, says Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed.
Former inspector general of police Benazir Ahmed has been arrested in Dubai, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed informed parliament today (14 June).
The arrest came in connection with a case filed by Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission, he said.
The minister said Bangladesh Police received an email from authorities in Dubai on Friday (12 June) confirming the arrest.
International police agency Interpol issued a Red Notice for Benazir in 2025, he mentioned, adding that through this Red Notice, Interpol requested the Ministry of Interior of the United Arab Emirates to arrest him.
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"On 12 June 2026, the Directorate General of the Federal Criminal Police, National Central Bureau (NCB) Abu Dhabi, under the UAE Ministry of Interior, informed the government of Bangladesh via email that Benazir Ahmed, accused in corruption cases, has been arrested by UAE police and is currently in custody there," the minister said.
He said the NCB Abu Dhabi has informed Dhaka that under UAE Federal Law No 39 of 2006, an official extradition request must be sent through diplomatic channels within 30 days of arrest.
Salahuddin added that cases under sections 420, 467 and 468 of the Penal Code and Section 11 of the Bangladesh Passport Order are pending against Benazir.
He said the NCB Dhaka has completed necessary coordination through Interpol channels.
In coordination with the NCB Abu Dhabi, Benazir will be brought back to Bangladesh very swiftly, the minister hoped.
Salahuddin also hailed Benazir's arrest as a historic success for Bangladesh Police.
He said he hopes this development will help Bangladesh move beyond a culture of impunity, assuring the nation that no offender, however powerful, is above the law.
It will help establish the rule of law in the country and remain a milestone in Bangladesh's history, the minister added.
Benazir served as IGP from 15 April 2020 to 30 September 2022.
Before that, he also held the posts of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner and director general of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
In December 2021, the United States imposed sanctions on seven then-current and former RAB officials over allegations of human rights violations. Benazir was among those named.
The Anti-Corruption Commission began investigating allegations of widespread irregularities and corruption against Benazir a few months before the Awami League was ousted from power in the 2024 July Uprising.
He left the country with his family on 4 May that year while the investigation was underway.
Multiple cases were filed against him and courts issued arrest warrants in connection with the charges.
Benazir's DBA saga
In 2019, Benazir was awarded a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) by Dhaka University (DU). He started using "Dr" before his name.
It was later revealed that he was ineligible to join the DBA programme, as he didn't have the required 50% marks in his bachelor's and master's degrees. Many eyebrows were raised as to how he found the time to do his research and complete his dissertation while serving as the director-general of RAB.
Shibli Rubayat-ul-Islam, the then-dean of Business Studies, allegedly bent the admission rules for Benazir. The next year, Shibli was made chairman of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
In 2024, a week before Hasina's ousting, three DU Senate members placed a proposal in Senate for cancellation of Benazir's degree. A year later, the DU Syndicate suspended Benazir's DBA degree and recommended a full cancellation, following an investigation that found evidence that admission rules went eased to enable him to enroll in the programme. A significant part of dissertation showed signs of plagiarism.
