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Benazir Ahmed

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Benazir Ahmed
বেনজীর আহমেদ
Ahmed in 2012
28th Inspector General of Bangladesh Police
In office
15 April 2020 – 30 September 2022
PresidentAbdul Hamid
Prime MinisterSheikh Hasina
Preceded byMohammad Javed Patwary
Succeeded byChowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun
8th Director General of Rapid Action Battalion
In office
7 January 2015 – 14 April 2020
PresidentAbdul Hamid
Prime MinisterSheikh Hasina
Preceded byMd. Mukhlesur Rahman
Succeeded byChowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun
18th Police Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police
In office
14 October 2010 – 8 January 2015
Preceded byA. K. M. Shahidul Haque
Succeeded byAsaduzzaman Mia
Personal details
Born (1963-10-01) 1 October 1963 (age 61)
Gopalganj District, East Pakistan, Pakistan
NationalityBangladeshi
EducationPh.D.
Alma mater
Notable workDirector General of Rapid Action Battalion
Police career
Unit
Allegiance Bangladesh
Branch Bangladesh Police
StatusRetired
RankIGP Rank Badge IGP

Benazir Ahmed (Bengali: বেনাজির আহমেদ) is a retired Bangladeshi police officer[1] who served as the 28th inspector general of the Bangladesh Police.[2] Prior to his appointment as IGP, he served as the director general of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from January 2015 to April 2020.[3] He is currently on a US sanctions list due to RAB's alleged role in forcibly disappearing citizens since December 2021.[4][5]

In April 2024, the Anti-Corruption Commission of Bangladesh formed a committee to investigate the wealth of Ahmed after Bangladesh Pratidin and Kaler Kantho published articles titled "Benazirer Ghore Aladiner Cherag" (Aladin's lamp at Benazir's house) and "Boner Jomite Benazirer Resort" (Benazir's resort on forest land) alleging Ahmed had amassed a vast amount of wealth illegally.[6][7]

Education

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Benazir Ahmed was born in Gopalganj.[8] He completed SSC exams from SM Model High School in Gopalganj in 1978, and cleared HSC exams from Jagannath College in 1980 both second division.[9] He completed his undergrad in 1982.[9] He completed his master's from the University of Dhaka in 1982 in English literature.[9] He earned his Ph.D. in business administration from the University of Dhaka.[8][9] Enrollment qualifications were relaxed by his PhD supervisor Shibli Rubayat Ul Islam.[9]

Career

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Ahmed joined Bangladesh Police Service as assistant superintendent of police in 1988. He served in various appointments concurrently with his career. He has also received professional training from home and abroad. He was deprived of promotion allegedly during the government of Bangladesh Nationalist Party as part of discrimination against police officers from Gopalganj and police officers from minority religions.[10] He was the commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.[11] He criticized a Transparency International Bangladesh report on the Bangladesh police which he described as criticizing the police "cruelly" and "unjustly" in 2013.[12]

On 30 December 2014, Ahmed was appointed director general of the Rapid Action Battalion replacing Mukhlesur Rahman.[13]

Ahmed was made the inspector general of the Bangladesh Police in April 2020.[14]

In 2022, the Home Ministry issued a notice that the IGP and two other officials were going to Germany on a 9-day visit to check the quality of 100,000 pieces of bed sheet for double cots and pillows for the police department.[15][16] This news caused controversy. Later the trip was cancelled after an uproar. The Bangladesh Police claim that these reports were "untrue and misleading," and were a result of "linguistic confusion".[17][18]

US sanctions

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On 10 December 2021, the U.S. Department of the Treasury added Ahmed to its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list under the Global Magnistsky Act.[19][20][4] Individuals on the list have their assets blocked and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from having financial dealings with them.[21]

Ahmed denied all allegations and expressed his shock at being sanctioned. He blamed the sanctions on "propaganda" and "anti-state forces." He also accused human rights organizations of misleading US politicians, specifically referring to one unnamed group whose "South Asia director" was "a Pakistani".[5]

Allegations of corruption

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On 31 March 2024, two Bangladeshi newspapers, Bangladesh Pratidin and Kaler Kantho, published an investigative article on alleged corruption by Ahmed.[22] According to the article, Ahmed built a resort, Savannah Eco Resort, in Bairagitol village of Gopalganj District, Bangladesh by illegally seizing lands from Hindu families.[22] On 23 May, the court ordered to freeze his properties, bank accounts over corruption charges.[23][24] On 3 June, he left the country.[25][26] Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) raised alarms over massive corruption allegations against him.[27] The Anti Corruption Commission says proof of corruption found against Ahmed and a case would be filed.[28] On 12 June, the court ordered to confiscate more properties of Ahmed and his family.[29][30][31]

Personal life

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Ahmed is married to Zeeshan Mirza. Together they have two daughters.[22]

References

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  1. ^ "New information emerges about Neo-JMB, 'spiritual leader' Kashem to be grilled for seven days". bdnews24.com. 3 March 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  2. ^ "Benazir Ahmed becomes new IGP". The Daily Star. 8 April 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  3. ^ "Benazir new IGP, Mamun Rab DG". The Daily Star. 9 April 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  4. ^ a b "What's behind US sanctions against Bangladesh's elite paramilitary force?". Deutsche Welle. 14 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Benazir: "We are victims of lies, falsehood, and deceit"". Netra News — নেত্র নিউজ. 6 January 2022. Archived from the original on 23 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  6. ^ "ACC begins investigating Benazir Ahmed's wealth". Prothom Alo. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Writ seeks probe into reported allegations on ex-IGP Benazir Ahmed's wealth". Prothom Alo. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  8. ^ a b "New IGP, RAB DG, DMP commissioner named in a major police shake-up". bdnews24.com. 30 December 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  9. ^ a b c d e Hasan, Mahmudul (14 June 2024). "Benazir earns PhD degree from DU without enrollment qualifications". Prothom Alo. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  10. ^ Ahsan, Zayadul. "Pariahs in police". The Daily Star. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  11. ^ "Police do not kill for money: Benazir Ahmed". bdnews24.com. 30 June 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  12. ^ "DU study finds 82% people happy with police service". Dhaka Tribune. Archived from the original on 28 March 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  13. ^ "Shahidul new IGP, Benazir Rab chief". The Daily Star. 30 December 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  14. ^ "Benazir Ahmed becomes new IGP". The Daily Star. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  15. ^ "IGP set to visit Germany". Prothom Alo. 10 February 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  16. ^ "Bedsheets for police: IGP, others going to Germany to assess dye". The Daily Star. 11 February 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  17. ^ "Police move to cancel IGP Benazir's Germany tour amid social media backlash". bdnews24.com. 19 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  18. ^ "IGP cancels Germany trip amid uproar". The Daily Star. 18 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  19. ^ "AHMED, Benazir". sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov.
  20. ^ "PM blasts US for remarks on Bangladesh". Daily Sun. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  21. ^ "Global Magnitsky Designations; North Korea Designations; Burma-related Designations; Non-SDN Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies (NS-CMIC) List Update". U.S. Department of the Treasury. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  22. ^ a b c বেনজিরের ঘরে আলাদিনের চেরাগ. Bangladesh Pratidin (in Bengali). 31 March 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  23. ^ "Court orders freeze on ex-IGP Benazir's properties, bank accounts over corruption charges". bdnews24.com.
  24. ^ "Seize Benazir's assets: Court". The Financial Express.
  25. ^ "How did Benazir and family leave the county unseen?". Prothom Alo. 3 June 2024.
  26. ^ "Where is Benazir Ahmed?". The Business Standard. 30 May 2024.
  27. ^ "TIB demands accountability for massive corruption by Benazir". Bangladesh Pratidin. 3 June 2024.
  28. ^ "Proof of corruption found against Benazir, case will be filed: ACC". The Business Standard.
  29. ^ "Court orders to confiscate more properties of ex-IGP Benazir, family | News". BSS.
  30. ^ "Court orders confiscation of more property of Benazir". The Financial Express.
  31. ^ "Benazir's corruption and the crisis of accountability". The Daily Star.
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