Former Bangladesh Police Chief Benazir Ahmed Reportedly Released From Dubai Prison
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Reports have surfaced suggesting that former Bangladesh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed has been released from a detention facility in Dubai. While the claims have circulated widely through local media, the Bangladesh Police and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) have yet to receive formal confirmation regarding his status from international authorities.
Police headquarters officials acknowledged the reports but stated they have not received official communication from Dubai authorities or Interpol. Attempts to verify the information have been hindered by the weekend holiday in the United Arab Emirates, slowing the exchange of diplomatic and law enforcement correspondence. According to a spokesperson for the police, the department remains without verified details regarding the terms of a potential release or the former official’s current whereabouts.
Similarly, the Anti-Corruption Commission, which had been pursuing cases against the former police chief, confirmed it lacks official documentation regarding his release. ACC Director General Mir Md. Zainul Abedin Shibli stated that the agency learned of the development through media reports, emphasizing that the commission remains committed to its legal proceedings. Shibli dismissed allegations of investigative negligence, asserting that the commission has maintained rigorous standards throughout the legal process.
Benazir Ahmed, who served as IGP from April 2020 to September 2022 and previously led the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), became the subject of intense public and legal scrutiny following reports of vast unexplained wealth held by him and his family. The scandal emerged months before the 2024 mass uprising that led to the collapse of the Awami League government, prompting investigations into illicit financial activities.
Legal action accelerated following his departure from the country. In December 2024, the ACC filed four separate cases against the former police chief, his wife, and their two daughters, alleging the acquisition of approximately 74 crore taka in illegal assets and the concealment of financial information. Court orders were subsequently issued to freeze the family’s extensive property holdings, bank accounts, and corporate shareholdings. By February 2025, a court had directed the enforcement of an Interpol-backed arrest warrant against him.
The former police official has long been a figure of international controversy, having been sanctioned by the United States in December 2021 over allegations of serious human rights abuses during his tenure at the helm of the Rapid Action Battalion. As of Sunday evening, attempts to reach Benazir Ahmed via his personal contact numbers remained unsuccessful, and Dubai authorities had not responded to requests for comment regarding his legal status.
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