A Dhaka court today (23 June) recorded testimony of four witnesses in a case accusing former inspector general of police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed of acquiring assets beyond his known sources of income.
The witnesses gave evidence before Judge Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka Special Judge’s Court-5, confirmed Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Lawyer Mir Ahmed Ali Salam
He added that testimony from eight of the prosecution’s 28 listed witnesses has now been completed.
However, as the accused remains absconding, the defence was unable to cross-examine the witnesses. Following the hearing, the court fixed 1 July for the next round of proceedings.
The four witnesses who testified include Md Sohel Mia, head assistant at the Narsingdi Tax Commissioner’s Office; Md Riazul Islam, sub-registrar of Sonargaon; Asef Aynan Bakhsh, a sub-divisional engineer in the Public Works Department; and ACC Deputy Director Sirajul Haque.
On 8 March, the court accepted the charge sheet and issued an arrest warrant against Benazir Ahmed. Subsequently, on 3 May, the same court formally framed charges and ordered the trial to begin.
The case was filed on 15 December 2024 by ACC Deputy Director Hafizul Islam. Following an investigation, Hafizul submitted a charge sheet on 30 November of the previous year, accusing the former police chief of acquiring assets beyond his known income, concealing wealth, and engaging in money laundering.
According to the charge sheet, Benazir declared fixed assets worth Tk6.45 crore and movable assets worth Tk5.74 crore in his submitted wealth statement.
However, investigators allegedly found evidence of fixed assets valued at Tk7.52 crore and movable assets worth Tk8.15 crore in his name.
The investigation concluded that Benazir had accumulated assets totalling approximately Tk15.68 crore.
Authorities said they identified legitimate income sources amounting to Tk6.59 crore. After accounting for expenditures, his net savings were calculated at Tk4.63 crore.
As a result, investigators alleged that Benazir Ahmed acquired assets worth Tk11.4 crore beyond his known sources of income.
The charge sheet further claimed that he concealed the origin, nature and ownership of these funds by investing, transferring and converting them through various bank accounts, business entities and joint-stock companies.
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