# Benazir Ahmed

Benazir Ahmed (Bengali: বেনাজির আহমেদ) is a retired Bangladeshi police officer who served as the 28th inspector general of the Bangladesh Police. Prior to his appointment as IGP, he served as the director general of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from January 2015 to April 2020. He is currently on a US sanctions list due to RAB's alleged role in forcibly disappearing citizens since December 2021.
In April 2024, the Anti-Corruption Commission of Bangladesh formed a committee to investigate the wealth of Ahmed after Bangladesh Pratidin and Kaler Kantho published articles titled "Benazirer Ghore Aladiner Cherag" (Aladin's lamp at Benazir's house) and "Boner Jomite Benazirer Resort" (Benazir's resort on forest land) alleging Ahmed had amassed a vast amount of wealth illegally.

## Education

Benazir Ahmed was born in Gopalganj. He completed SSC exams from SM Model High School in Gopalganj in 1978, and cleared HSC exams from Jagannath College in 1980 both second division. He completed his undergrad in 1982. He completed his master's from the University of Dhaka in 1982 in English literature. He earned his Ph.D. in business administration from the University of Dhaka. Enrollment qualifications were relaxed by his PhD supervisor Shibli Rubayat Ul Islam.

## Career

Ahmed joined Bangladesh Police Service as assistant superintendent of police in 1988. He served in various appointments concurrently with his career. He has also received professional training from home and abroad. He was the commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police. He criticized a Transparency International Bangladesh report on the Bangladesh police which he described as criticizing the police "cruelly" and "unjustly" in 2013.
On 30 December 2014, Ahmed was appointed director general of the Rapid Action Battalion replacing Mukhlesur Rahman.
Ahmed was made the inspector general of the Bangladesh Police in April 2020.
In 2022, the Home Ministry issued a notice that the IGP and two other officials were going to Germany on a 9-day visit to check the quality of 100,000 pieces of bed sheet for double cots and pillows for the police department. This news caused controversy. Later the trip was cancelled after an uproar. The Bangladesh Police claim that these reports were "untrue and misleading," and were a result of "linguistic confusion".

## US sanctions

On 10 December 2021, the U.S. Department of the Treasury added Ahmed to its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list under the Global Magnistsky Act. Individuals on the list have their assets blocked and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from having financial dealings with them.
Ahmed denied all allegations and expressed his shock at being sanctioned. He blamed the sanctions on "propaganda" and "anti-state forces." He also accused human rights organizations of misleading US politicians, specifically referring to one unnamed group whose "South Asia director" was "a Pakistani".

## Allegations of corruption

On 31 March 2024, two Bangladeshi newspapers, Bangladesh Pratidin and Kaler Kantho, published an investigative article on alleged corruption by Ahmed. According to the article, Ahmed built a resort, Savannah Eco Resort, in Bairagitol village of Gopalganj District, Bangladesh by illegally seizing lands from Hindu families. On 23 May, the court ordered to freeze his properties, bank accounts over corruption charges. On 3 June, he left the country. Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) raised alarms over massive corruption allegations against him. The Anti Corruption Commission says proof of corruption found against Ahmed and a case would be filed. On 12 June, the court ordered to confiscate more properties of Ahmed and his family.

## Personal life

Ahmed is married to Zeeshan Mirza. Together they have two daughters.