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Transparency International Bangladesh on Monday demanded fair compensation for the individuals who were coerced by former police chief Benazir Ahmed into selling their land.

The anti-graft watchdog made the demand in a statement that raised serious alarms regarding the former inspector general of police who allegedly amassed a substantial amount of illegal wealth and property abusing his authority.

‘The anti-corruption organisation underscores that the unbridled misuse of power by individuals in high-ranking positions is not only alarming but also reminiscent of creating Frankenstein figures like Benazir, and is ultimately undermining the state’s accountability mechanisms,’ the statement said.

TIB has called for decisive legal action against those aiding and shielding such abuses of power.

Information on wealth and property accumulation by the former police chief are surfacing regularly, it said, adding that media has reported that most of this wealth and property were grabbed by the former police chief by using fear tactics, or he had held the owners hostage to sell their land.

‘In many cases, the owners of these lands were the members of the minority communities. For carrying out his mischief, the former police chief arbitrarily deployed personnel from his own agency and other state-run agencies,’ it said.

Terming such abuse of power by the top ranking officer of a law enforcement agency as outrageous, TIB executive director Iftekharuzzaman said, ‘Allegations that the properties were forcibly acquired through intimidation, using the name of the former IGP and his family members and in collusion with the law enforcement and government agency personnel, is truly horrific.’

‘Any chance of the victims getting justice has also been forcefully blocked. Under such circumstances, there is no alternative to ensuring exemplary punishment for the main accused and the colluders, and to compensate those who were forced to sell their properties fearing the former police chief,’ he said.

The allegations of wealth and property accumulation through corruption against the former IGP are currently under investigation, with new information about his wealth surfacing regularly, he said, raising questions about how Benazir Ahmed and his family were able to flee the country amid such serious allegations.

‘Media reports indicate that the former police chief, accused of corruption, fled the country after withdrawing a substantial amount of money from the banks. Given these circumstances, it is truly surprising that someone as controversial as him could go without anyone noticing,’ he said.

It raises suspicion whether his departure involved collusion, or if any bank official assisted in withdrawing and laundering the funds abroad, or if the investigations against him are superficial, Iftekharuzzaman said.

‘It’s evident that a certain faction within the power structure has protected him and continues to do so. Justice cannot be served solely by prosecuting the former police chief; also those aiding and abetting him must face legal consequences,’ he said.

It is unacceptable that the former police chief has gone unnoticed by the government, especially when he set a shocking precedent by openly engaging in corruption and amassing substantial wealth, he said.

In such a scenario, it is logical to presume that the government not only shielded and supported him but also, in some instances, actively encouraged his actions, contributing to the emergence of the Frankenstein within the political sphere of bureaucracy, he said.

Benazir, reportedly staying abroad, is now facing an inquiry of the Anti-Corruption Commission that has already seized huge properties and bank accounts of the former police chief.