A Dhaka court has formally framed charges and ordered the commencement of trial proceedings against former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed in a case involving allegations of acquiring over 1.1 billion taka in unlawful assets.
On Sunday (3 May), Judge Abdullah Al Mamun of Special Judge Court-5 in Dhaka issued the order after taking cognisance of the charge sheet. The court fixed 13 May for the recording of witness testimony, marking the next stage of the trial process.
Court officials confirmed the development. Bench Assistant Sohanur Rahman stated that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) presented arguments in favour of framing charges, led by Deputy Director Mir Ahmed Ali Salam. As the accused is currently absconding, no defence lawyer was present in court.
Earlier, on 8 March, the court issued an arrest warrant against Benazir Ahmed after accepting the charge sheet submitted in the case.
The case was initially filed on 15 December 2024 by ACC Deputy Director Hafizul Islam. Following an investigation, a formal charge sheet was submitted on 30 November of the same year, accusing the former police chief of acquiring wealth beyond known sources of income, concealing asset information, and engaging in money laundering activities.
According to the charge sheet, Benazir Ahmed declared movable and immovable assets in his wealth statement. However, the ACC’s investigation found discrepancies between declared assets and verified holdings.
Asset comparison based on investigation
| Category |
Declared Assets |
Investigated Assets |
| Immovable property |
BDT 6.45 crore |
BDT 7.52 crore |
| Movable property |
BDT 5.74 crore |
BDT 8.15 crore |
| Total assets |
BDT 12.20 crore |
BDT 15.68 crore |
Investigators also determined that his legitimate income sources amounted to approximately BDT 6.59 crore. After accounting for expenses, his estimated net savings stood at around BDT 4.63 crore.
Based on these calculations, the ACC concluded that Benazir Ahmed allegedly acquired approximately BDT 11.04 crore in assets beyond known legal income sources.
The charge sheet further alleges that the accused attempted to conceal the origin, nature, and ownership of these funds. It is claimed that the money was channelled through various banking accounts, business entities, and joint-stock investments, involving processes such as transfer, conversion, and integration to obscure its origin.
With the framing of charges now completed, the case will proceed to the evidentiary stage later this month, marking a significant development in one of the country’s high-profile corruption proceedings involving a former top law enforcement official.
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