Benazir Ahmed Extradition From UAE May Take Months

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed’s extradition from the UAE to Bangladesh may take several more months despite recent diplomatic progress. The UAE government has agreed in principle to the handover following his June 12 arrest in Dubai which was triggered by an Interpol Red Notice.

Currently the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is preparing additional legal documents requested by Dubai Police. Once complete these will be routed through the Home and Foreign Ministries. Benazir who led the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and served as IGP until September 2022 fled Bangladesh in 2024 after corruption allegations surfaced. The ACC has filed six cases against him regarding illicit wealth and passport forgery while the International Crimes Tribunal is investigating alleged crimes against humanity.

Legal experts note his return depends on sufficient evidence legal compatibility between the two nations UAE judicial proceedings and diplomatic engagement. A UAE court must first verify that the charges align with Emirati law and are not politically motivated. Additionally unconfirmed reports of Benazir's Turkish citizenship or UAE residency could complicate the process though lawyers argue residency alone will not block extradition.

While Bangladesh lacks a bilateral extradition treaty with the UAE both nations are part of international conventions that allow criminal cooperation. The government remains optimistic but ACC and Home Ministry officials caution that finalizing these complex legal formalities will take time.