Opposition chief whip Mujibul Haque Chunnu on Wednesday in parliament demanded that the government takes stern action against former police chief Benazir Ahmed while Benazir sought 15 days’ time to the Anti-Corruption Commission to face interrogation.
During an unscheduled discussion, Jatiya Party lawmaker Chunnu said that many others would get inspiration for committing corruption if the government did not take action against Benazir.
When any opposition leader goes abroad, he is detained for hours after hours at the airport, Chunnu reminded.
‘It cannot happen that such a person like Banazir would go abroad beyond the government’s knowledge. There are so many forces, so many agencies, what information do they have,’ questioned Chunnu.
‘The home minister said that he did not know whether Benazir had gone abroad or not. Why the home minister does not know (about Banazir’s leaving the country). Benazir went through immigration. If the government is not informed by the immigration authorities that Banazir crossed immigration, then all the immigration officials should be fired,’ he also said.Â
Highlighting Benazir’s huge wealth in different parts of the country, Chunnu said that when Benazir was DG of RAB and Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, he bought land by scaring many of the Hindu community people.
He withdrew Tk 80 crore from the bank a few days ago and went abroad, he mentioned.
Chunnu said that Benazir Ahmed was promoted and posted during the tenure of this government when he built the asset by corruption.
Meanwhile, on behalf of Benazir, his lawyer submitted an application to the commission seeking 15-day time, said ACC Commissioner [Investigation] Md Jahurul Haque responding to a query from a journalist at the ACC headquarters in Dhaka on Wednesday.
‘I heard, he [Benazir] applied for time through his lawyer,’ said the commissioner, adding that the inquiry team will decide about it [application]. It is their matter. They know better, he added.
However, it is still unknown whether Benazir’s wife and two daughters submitted any time petition or whether they will appear before the ACC on June 9.
On May 28, the ACC issued a notice to Benazir asking to appear at ACC on June 6 and his wife Jissan Mirza and daughters on June 9 for interrogation over the graft allegations.
Following the ACC petition, a Dhaka court ordered the seizure of assets, including four flats registered in the name of Benazir and his family members, to facilitate a proper investigation into graft allegations against them.
The court also froze 33 financial accounts, including the 27 bank accounts of Benazir and his family members, but Benazir withdrew a huge amount of money before the seizure of his bank accounts and reportedly left the country on May 4.
The ACC took the decision to initiate an inquiry against Benazir based on media reports on him and his family’s alleged amassing of illegal wealth.
Benazir, however, claimed the media reports about his amassing illegal wealth were false, distorted, and motivated.
On December 10, 2021, the United States declared the then IGP Benazir ineligible for entry to the country for ‘gross violations of human rights’ while serving as RAB director general.