Ex-Bangladesh Police Chief Nabbed in UAE, Faces Extradition

Former Bangladesh police chief Benazir Ahmed, subject to an Interpol notice and US sanctions, was apprehended in the UAE on June 12 and is set to be extradited.

Ex-Bangladesh Police Chief Nabbed in UAE, Faces Extradition

United Arab Emirates security forces have taken into custody Benazir Ahmed, the former head of Bangladesh's police force, who had been sought through an Interpol notice. His capture on June 12 was confirmed by Dhaka's interior minister, who indicated that handover proceedings to Bangladesh are imminent.

Ahmed previously enjoyed close ties to ousted premier Sheikh Hasina. He exited Bangladesh in May last year after mass protests erupted concerning claims that he had amassed vast illicit wealth.

Washington had already blacklisted the ex-official in 2021, accusing him of overseeing numerous abductions and unlawful killings while commanding the Rapid Action Battalion, an elite security force.

Speaking before lawmakers, Bangladeshi Interior Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the apprehension followed the issuance of an Interpol alert. He hailed the development as groundbreaking, vowing that the action would help dismantle long-standing patterns of immunity for powerful figures.

The minister emphasized that legal consequences would reach even the most influential wrongdoers, stating that nobody stands beyond the reach of justice.

Ahmed's arrest follows the collapse of Sheikh Hasina's government in August 2024, when nationwide demonstrations driven by students forced the longtime ruler to flee abroad.

Source: Khaleej Times

Source: Google News AE