The court has ordered the seizure of an additional 113 property documents and four flats in Gulshan owned by former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed and his family. Additionally, shares held in various companies under their names have been frozen.
Senior Special Judge Mohammad Assams Jaglul Hosen of Dhaka Metropolitan Court issued these orders today, Sunday. Public Prosecutor Mahmud Hossain Jahangir from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) confirmed this development to Prothom Alo, stating that after the initial order last Thursday to seize 83 property documents of former IGP Benazir Ahmed, further assets were discovered. The ACC subsequently petitioned the court today to seize these assets, leading to the court’s ruling.
Previously on Thursday, the court had also ordered the seizure of 345 bighas (approximately 114 acres) of land and the freezing of 33 bank accounts held under the names of Benazir Ahmed, his wife, and children in both governmental and private banks.
The ACC has begun implementing the court’s orders regarding the seizure of properties and freezing of bank accounts. Lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told Prothom Alo yesterday, Saturday, that the ACC has received copies of the court’s order and will gradually distribute them to relevant governmental offices and banking authorities for enforcement. Benazir Ahmed served as the IGP from April 15, 2020, to September 30, 2022, and has previously held significant roles such as the Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and Director General of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). He was among the seven officers sanctioned by the United States in December 2021 for human rights violations during his tenure with RAB and while he was IGP. According to PP Mahmud Hossain, as per the court’s order, no funds can be withdrawn from the bank accounts under Benazir Ahmed and his family’s names, nor can any properties be transferred. These assets will remain under court control.
