Published: June 14, 2026
Photo: Collected
In a major breakthrough, former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed has been arrested by law enforcement agencies in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The arrest was officially confirmed by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed during a parliamentary session on Sunday. According to the minister, the National Central Bureau (NCB) of Dubai Police notified the Bangladesh government via email on June 12 that the fugitive former police chief had been taken into custody.
“We will bring him back to Bangladesh soon,” the Home Minister told parliament, calling the arrest a major triumph for the country’s law enforcement network.
The Flight and The International Manhunt
Benazir Ahmed, who wielded immense power as the Director General of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from 2015 to 2020 and later as the IGP from 2020 to 2022, had been on the run since May 4, 2024. He quietly slipped out of Bangladesh with his family just as corruption investigations against him began to peak.
His arrest comes on the heels of a Red Notice issued by Interpol in April 2025, which was initiated following a formal request from the NCB unit at Police Headquarters in Dhaka.
Massive Corruption Charges and Asset Seizures
The former top cop is facing a barrage of legal battles led by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), centering on staggering amounts of illegal wealth accumulated during his tenure.
The Wealth Gap: ACC investigations uncovered that Benazir amassed unexplained movable and immovable assets worth at least Tk 11.04 crore, an amount that drastically eclipses his official, known sources of income.
Formal Indictment: The legal noose tightened significantly just last month when a Dhaka Special Judge Court officially framed corruption charges against him on May 3, 2026.
Global Asset Confiscation: Bangladeshi courts have already ordered the freezing and seizure of massive properties tied to Benazir and his family. These include hundreds of bighas of land, corporate shares, luxury apartments in Dhaka, and even high-end real estate assets registered under his daughter’s name in Dubai.
What Happens Next?
Senior police and diplomatic sources in Dhaka have confirmed that formal paperwork is already being fast-tracked. Bangladesh is leveraging its diplomatic ties and existing legal frameworks with the UAE to ensure a swift extradition process so Benazir Ahmed can face trial on home soil.
