Staff Reporter:
A Dhaka court on Thursday ordered the appointment of receivers to look after six flats, five plots, two office spaces and 25 acres of land of former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed and his family.
Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Mohammad As-Shams Jaglul Hossain passed the order following a petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), said ACC lawyer Mahmud Hossain Jahangir.
He said they urged the court to appoint the ACC director (Asset Management) as the receiver of Benazir’s property in Dhaka and Narayanganj, and the deputy commissioner for Bandarban’s property.
Benazir’s immovable properties include 24 kathas of land in Rupganj of Narayanganj, 3 kathas of land in Uttara, two flats in a building built on 13.66 kathas of land in Badda and 25 acres of land (lease) in Bandarban district. Apart from this, there are six flats in the name of Benazir’s wife Zeeshan Mirza in the Pisciculture Housing area in Adabar, Dhaka.
On 12 June, the same court ordered the seizure of these properties.
Earlier on 6 June, the court appointed a receiver to look after the immovable properties of the former IGP after seizure orders in two phases.
On 23 May, Judge Mohammad As-Shams Jaglul Hossain ordered the confiscation of 345 bighas (114 acres) of land under 83 deeds and the freezing of 33 bank accounts belonging to Benazir and his family members.
On 26 May, the same court also ordered the confiscation of land under 119 more deeds, shares in 23 companies and four flats in Gulshan, belonging to Benazir and his family members.
The ACC was also asked to confiscate shares in 19 business firms, three BO accounts and Tk30 lakh savings certificates.
On 12 June, the court ordered the seizure of eight more flats, garment factory shares, and other land properties belonging to the former police chief, his wife and their daughters.
The Kaler Kantho and the Daily Sun, in early April, published a series of reports detailing the wealth and properties allegedly acquired through illegal means by Benazir Ahmed and his family members which sparked a widespread discussion throughout the country.
Supreme Court lawyer Syed Sayedul Haque Suman approached the ACC seeking an investigation into allegations against the ex-IGP of amassing huge illegal wealth by abusing power.
Later, the High Court asked the ACC to submit a progress report on the investigation into the alleged illegal wealth of the former IGP and his family within two months.
On 22 April, the ACC told the media that it formed a three-member committee, led by Deputy Director Md Hafizul Islam, to investigate the allegations against the former IGP of amassing huge illegal wealth through abusing power.
Amid the investigation into the corruption allegations, Benazir and his family members left the country on 4 May.
