Influential or not, criminals will be punished: Quader on Benazir's asset seizure

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader affirmed the government's commitment to fighting corruption and upholding the law, following a court order confiscating the assets of former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed.

"The judiciary is independent, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is independent. If someone is proven guilty, why should we protect them? Whether a former IGP or army chief, our laws will bring them to justice," Quader said at a press conference organised at the Awami League's central office in Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital on Friday (24 May).

On Thursday, the Dhaka Metropolitan Court ordered the seizure of 83 documents related to Benazir's asset purchases and the freezing of 33 financial accounts, including 27 bank accounts belonging to Benazir, his wife, and his daughter. 

Senior Special Judge Mohammad Asamcham Jaglul Hossain issued the order following an application by the ACC as part of its investigation into allegations of illegal wealth accumulation against Benazir.

During the press conference, Ouader emphasised the Sheikh Hasina administration's unwavering stance against corruption, citing past examples. "The government didn't protect Chhatra League members convicted in the Buet student murder case," he said. "Even the killers of Biswajit Das faced the consequences."

Quader reiterated that individuals can commit crimes, but the crucial point is whether the government shields them. "The government has zero tolerance for this," he declared. "Criminals, regardless of influence, must be punished."

Allegations against ex-IGP Benazir

Before the court intervened, the ACC had already begun probing Benazir's alleged accumulation of wealth. 

ACC Secretary Khorsheda Yasmeen announced the formation of an investigative committee on 22 April, saying that they were looking into accusations of illegal wealth acquisition against the former IGP, as reported in the media.

The following day, 23 April, the High Court instructed the ACC to provide a progress report on the investigation into Benazir's suspected ill-gotten wealth within two months. 

Benazir served as IGP from 15 April 2020 to 30 September 2022 and previously held positions as Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) director general.

In December 2021, the United States imposed sanctions on seven RAB officials, including both current and former members, for their involvement in human rights abuses. Benazir, who was serving as IGP at the time, was among those sanctioned.

Despite facing sanctions, Benazir travelled to New York, USA in August 2022 to participate in the UN Police Chiefs Conference. However, his travel was restricted solely to attending conference events, and he was not permitted to travel elsewhere in the United States during his visit.

National daily Kaler Kantho recently published a two-part investigative report titled "Ex-IGP's Misdeeds-1 and 2" detailing the extensive wealth acquired by Benazir and his family. 

The first part, released on 31 March, was titled "Aladdin's Lamp in Benazir's House." It revealed that Benazir's family owns an eco-resort spanning approximately 1,400 bighas of land, along with an additional 800 bighas acquired adjacent to the resort. 

Additionally, they possess 2 lakh shares in a five-star hotel and a 3,500 square foot flat in Bashundhara, Dhaka, allegedly purchased with illicit funds.

The second part, published on 2 April, titled "Benazir's Resort on Forest Land," disclosed that the Bhawal Resort, in which Benazir's family holds a 25% stake, occupies 160 bighas of land in Naljani village in Bhawalgarh union under Gazipur Sadar upazila. 

The report highlighted the encroachment of 20 bighas of forest land for the resort's construction. Furthermore, the report outlined Benazir's family's involvement in lucrative businesses, including a hotel enterprise in Dubai, a gold venture in Singapore, and land investments in Thailand and Malaysia.

After Kaler Kantho's report, Benazir posted a video on his Facebook account on 20 April. In the video, he asserted that his family's assets are lawful and are accurately reflected in their tax records. 

He challenged anyone to disprove the legality of the assets mentioned in the report, offering to donate them for free if proven otherwise.