Vast Wealth from Benazir’s Luxury Flat to Be Auctioned – Here’s What’s Inside

The process of auctioning off the luxurious personal belongings of former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed and his family—seized from a Gulshan duplex apartment—has officially commenced. The Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s Court has formed an auction committee to oversee the proceedings.

Auction Announcement and Procedure

The auction committee recently met and decided to publish public notices in newspapers soon, announcing the auction of items once used by Benazir and his family. The committee has already established auction guidelines and taken preliminary steps for implementation.

Inventory of Seized Assets

Authorities have compiled an extensive inventory of the seized items, which has left committee members stunned. Many find it difficult to believe that such a vast amount of wealth could be amassed through abuse of public office.

“While listing the contents of the flat, it felt like we were going through the assets of former Philippine President Marcos and Imelda Marcos. It reminds us of the headlines from the 1980s that shook the world.”

Additional seized items include perfumes, body sprays, and furnishings from the bedroom, kitchen, and a private theatre room. The committee noted that the list reads more like the inventory of a luxury boutique than a public servant’s residence.

The Lavish Gulshan Duplex

The luxury duplex, located in RANCON Tower, Gulshan, was created by merging four separate high-end flats. The apartment features:

• A private swimming pool
• A mini-theatre room
• A guest entertainment parlour
• Multiple modern facilities

The entire flat is equipped with 19 refrigerators and nearly 100 tonnes of air conditioning capacity.

Some high-value items—such as beds, dressing tables, dining tables, sofas, chairs, wardrobes, and cabinets—have been excluded from the initial auction. Decisions on these will be made later based on the court’s directive.

Oversight: Auction Committee and Investigation

The auction committee, formed by court order, is chaired by the Director of the Asset Management Unit of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Other members include:

Benazir’s Money Laundering and Secret Exit

On 4 May 2024, Benazir Ahmed secretly left the country using a new passport obtained under false declaration. He was accompanied by his wife and daughters, and reportedly carried bags filled with gold jewellery, cash, and foreign currency.

The ACC has filed a case against Benazir on charges of laundering Tk 11.34 crore (113.45 million taka).

These developments form part of an expanding investigation into the extensive wealth allegedly amassed by Benazir through abuse of power, casting a stark light on corruption at the highest levels of public service.