The Anti-Corruption Commission on Tuesday sent the necessary documents to the home affairs ministry through the National Central Bureau, Bangladesh, to facilitate the return of former inspector general of police Benazir Ahmed, who was arrested in the United Arab Emirates.
The National Central Bureau is the local liaison body of Interpol.
The documents include case records filed against Benazir, arrest warrants, court orders and investigation-related papers, ACC deputy director and public relations officer Akhtarul Islam said.
‘The necessary documents have been sent to the home ministry. From there, they will be forwarded through the foreign affairs ministry via diplomatic channels to the relevant authorities in the UAE,’ he said.
ACC officials said that two NCB officials had been working with the commission over the past two days to advance the legal and diplomatic process for Benazir’s extradition.
They reviewed the status of the ongoing cases, court orders, arrest warrants and documents required for the extradition.
The documents prepared for the extradition request include court orders, first information reports, arrest warrants, copies of relevant laws, investigation records, copies of Benazir’s passport and national identity card, and other information necessary to verify his identity.
English and Arabic translations of the documents have also been attached in line with the requirements of the UAE authorities.
Home minister Salahuddin Ahmed informed parliament on Sunday that Benazir had been arrested in the UAE on June 12.
Quoting a letter from the Abu Dhabi NCB, he said that under Article 11 of UAE Federal Law No 39 of 2006, a formal extradition request must be submitted through diplomatic channels within 30 days of the arrest.
Benazir, considered one of the most influential police officials during the Awami League regime, which was ousted on August 5, 2024, in the wake of a mass uprising, faces arrest warrants in Bangladesh in at least two cases.
On February 12, 2025, a Dhaka court issued an arrest warrant for him in a case filed over amassing illegal wealth and concealment of wealth information.
Based on the warrant, Interpol issued a Red Notice against him on April 11, 2025.
On October 14, 2024, the ACC filed another case against him for allegedly obtaining an ordinary passport by identifying himself as a private employee while serving in government service.
A court issued an arrest warrant in that case on February 20, 2025.
