A Dhaka court has directed Interpol to issue a red alert for the arrest of former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed.
On Monday (February 10), Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Galib issued the order in response to a petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
ACC Deputy Director Hafizul Islam submitted the petition, stating that Benazir Ahmed is currently absconding abroad and needs to be apprehended and brought to justice. The court approved the request following a hearing.
Earlier, on January 13, the court ordered the seizure of income tax records of Benazir Ahmed and his eldest daughter, Farheen Rishta Binte Benazir. On January 8, similar orders were issued for his wife, Jishan Mirza, and younger daughter, Tahsin Raisa Binte Benazir. The ACC had previously filed four cases against Benazir and his family on December 15.
The allegations state that Benazir Ahmed illegally amassed 94.4 million BDT in assets while concealing 26.2 million BDT in wealth. His wife, Jishan Mirza, allegedly acquired 316.9 million BDT in undisclosed assets and withheld information on 160.1 million BDT. Their eldest daughter, Farheen Rishta, is accused of accumulating 87.5 million BDT, while their younger daughter, Tahsin Raisa, reportedly possesses 55.9 million BDT in illegal wealth.
On February 9, the Bangladesh Retired Police Officers Welfare Association issued a statement demanding that Benazir Ahmed be extradited through Interpol and brought to trial.
The statement described Benazir as a "disgraced loyalist of the fascist Awami League," accusing him of being a fugitive involved in murder, abduction, and corruption. It also condemned his recent statements on social media, labelling them as defamatory and conspiratorial against the state and the police force.
