Extradition process of Benazir not over even after getting bail: Home Minister

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said the extradition process to bring former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed back to Bangladesh has not ended even though he got bail in the United Arab Emirates. He said the government is continuing legal, diplomatic and international police measures to bring Benazir back to the country. Local lawyers have been appointed in the United Arab Emirates for this purpose. Regular inquiry and coordination regarding his location and movement are also continuing.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed informed Parliament of these details regarding bringing Benazir Ahmed back to the country at the sitting on the second day of the fourth session of the National Parliament on Tuesday (November 10). Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal presided over the sitting.

The Home Minister said after the competent court of Bangladesh issued an arrest warrant against Benazir Ahmed, initiative was taken to issue a Red Notice through Interpol on the request of the concerned investigating agency. Interpol issued a Red Notice against him on April 11, 2025.

The minister said NCB Abu Dhabi formally informed NCB Dhaka on June 12, 2026 that Benazir Ahmed has been arrested in the United Arab Emirates. At the same time Bangladesh was requested to send a formal extradition request through diplomatic channel within 30 days according to the relevant provision of the federal law of the country.

The Home Minister said Bangladesh sent the formal extradition request through diplomatic channel to the Central Authority of the United Arab Emirates within only four days, that is on June 16, without waiting for the stipulated time. A copy of the request was also sent to NCB Abu Dhabi on the same day for information and coordination.

Extradition process not over even after getting bail

The Home Minister said extradition is a judicial and state process. Extradition is not automatically completed only through the Red Notice of Interpol or the arrest of the concerned person. The Central Authority and the court of the country receiving the request examine the extradition application, the nature of the crime, the arrest warrant, the evidence and other legal conditions according to the law of that country and take a decision.

He said getting bail by the concerned person does not mean that Bangladesh’s extradition request has been withdrawn or rejected. In the same way, considering the need to cross various stages of the legal and judicial process to complete the extradition as inactivity or failure of the government will also not be appropriate.

The minister said additional documents have been sent according to the demand of the United Arab Emirates. Local lawyers have been appointed there regarding bringing Benazir Ahmed back to the country. Regular inquiry and coordination regarding his location and movement are continuing.

ACC seeks information on Benazir’s assets abroad

The Home Minister also informed Parliament that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has sent Mutual Legal Assistance Requests (MLAR) to the concerned countries regarding the assets held abroad in the names of Benazir Ahmed and his family members.

He said after receiving the necessary records, information and evidence, the next measures regarding freezing, seizure, confiscation or recovery of assets will be taken under the applicable law, court orders and the framework of international legal cooperation.

The Home Minister said Bangladesh sent the extradition request within the stipulated time and supplied the necessary documents according to the demand of the United Arab Emirates. All kinds of legal, diplomatic and international police measures to bring Benazir Ahmed back to the country will continue respecting the rule of law, due judicial process and international cooperation.

It may be mentioned that a proposal adopted under Rule 147 of the Rules of Procedure in the third session of the 13th National Parliament on September 8 demanded that Parliament be informed about how Benazir Ahmed got bail in Dubai and what measures the government is taking to bring him back to the country and face trial. In the context of that proposal the Home Minister placed these details in Parliament.