Staff Correspondent

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) will file a case against former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed on charge of accumulating wealth illegally beyond his income.

Sources at the ACC said cases against the former IGP and his family would be filed soon.

Besides, the ACC's panel lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan has admitted that proof of corruption was found against Benazir.

Talking to journalists on Thursday, he said, "Benazir has committed all the crimes which are usually considered as crimes under the Anti-Corruption Commission Act. The ACC has found adequate evidence against him of accumulating illegal wealth. Now, it is time for the ACC to file a case against him."

On June 4 last, ACC Commissioner Jahurul Huque talked to journalists about it. When he was asked what action could be taken if the former IGP didn't appear at the ACC?"

In reply, Jahurul Huque said, "If he (Benazir) doesn't appear after being summoned by the ACC, it would be assumed that he doesn't have anything to say about the allegation. If the allegations against him are proved, the ACC can file a case against him examining the records. If the allegations against him cannot be proved, he would be relieved of the charges. This is the law."

The ACC Commissioner further said the ACC Act doesn't clearly state that it is mandatory for a person to appear before the ACC if a notice is sent. If the person doesn't come, it will be assumed that he has nothing to say. However, he can seek time and the ACC can give him 15 days' time to come.

The ACC has so far found that Benazir and his family bought at least 613.41 bighas of land in different districts, including 605.77 bighas in Gopalganj and Madaripur that once belonged to Hindus, a religious minority.

He built most of his assets, including an eye-catching resort called Savanna Eco Resort and Natural Park in his hometown of Gopalganj, when he was the director general of Rapid Action Battalion (January 2015 to April 2020) and inspector general pf police force (April 2020 to September 2022).

Apart from this, the ACC found four luxury apartments registered in the name of Benazir Ahmed's wife and one of his daughters at Gulshan in Dhaka.

The size of the four apartments is 9,192 sqf. The apartments were bought on the same day (March 5, 2023) within six months of the retirement of Benazir Ahmed. The price of the four apartments in the upscale area was shown at only Tk 21.9 million.

Besides, the ACC found eight more flats and 25 acres (1 acre=60.5 kathas) and 27 kathas of land remaining in the names of former inspector general of police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed, his wife and daughters.