What prompted the arrest warrant for Benazir Ahmed?
A Dhaka court has issued an arrest warrant against former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed after taking cognizance of a charge sheet filed in a case concerning alleged illegal assets.
The warrant was issued on March 8, 2026, following a case that was initiated on December 15, 2024, by Hafizul Islam from the Anti-Corruption Commission. The charge sheet, submitted on November 30, 2025, accuses Ahmed of amassing wealth that exceeds her known sources of income.
Details of the allegations
According to the charge sheet, Benazir Ahmed declared movable assets worth Tk6.45 crore and immovable assets worth Tk5.74 crore in her asset statement. However, investigators uncovered evidence indicating that she possessed movable assets valued at Tk7.52 crore and immovable assets worth Tk8.15 crore, bringing the total identified assets to approximately Tk15.68 crore.
Of these, assets worth Tk11.04 crore were identified as being acquired beyond her known legitimate income sources, which were reported to be around Tk6.59 crore. Furthermore, her net savings after expenses were estimated at Tk4.63 crore.
Next steps in the legal process
The court has directed authorities to submit a report on the execution of the arrest warrant by March 30, 2026. In a significant development, the court has declared Benazir Ahmed a fugitive, indicating the seriousness of the charges against her.
The charge sheet also alleges that funds were invested, transferred, and converted to conceal their illegal source, further complicating the case.
Md Riaz Hossain, the bench assistant of the court, confirmed the issuance of the arrest warrant, highlighting the ongoing legal proceedings against the former IGP.
As the situation unfolds, further details regarding the execution of the arrest warrant and the implications for Benazir Ahmed remain unconfirmed.
