UAE imposes travel ban on ex-IGP Benazir pending extradition: home minister

The United Arab Emirates has imposed a travel ban on former inspector general of police Benazir Ahmed, preventing him from leaving the country while Bangladesh’s extradition request is under consideration, home minister Salahuddin Ahmed told parliament on Tuesday.

Benazir, who was released on bail by a UAE court, remains in the country under the travel restriction, the minister said in response to a resolution adopted by the Jatiya Sangsad under Rule 147.

He said Interpol issued a Red Notice against Benazir on April 11 last year following an arrest warrant from a competent Bangladeshi court and a request from the investigating agency.

On June 12, the National Central Bureau in Abu Dhabi informed its Dhaka counterpart that Benazir had been arrested in the UAE and asked Bangladesh to submit a formal extradition request through diplomatic channels within 30 days.

Bangladesh submitted the request within four days and subsequently provided additional information and evidence sought by the UAE authorities, the minister said.

He said NCB Dhaka had sought an update on Benazir’s whereabouts and the extradition process before the parliamentary resolution was adopted. NCB Abu Dhabi replied on September 9.

Salahuddin said the change in Benazir’s custodial status had been decided under UAE laws and judicial procedures and did not mean that Bangladesh’s extradition request had been withdrawn, rejected or concluded.

He added that Bangladesh had sent mutual legal assistance requests to relevant countries seeking information about assets held abroad in the names of Benazir and his family members.

The minister said Bangladesh had appointed local lawyers in the UAE and was continuing to seek information and coordinate with the authorities there regarding Benazir’s whereabouts and movements.

Rejecting suggestions that Benazir’s release on bail reflected government inaction or failure, he said extradition required legal and judicial procedures in the country concerned.

The government would continue all possible legal, diplomatic and international police measures to bring Benazir back to Bangladesh while respecting the UAE’s sovereignty and domestic laws, he added.

Source: New Age