Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed has been implicated in an incident involving the acquisition of forest department land to obtain a one-fourth equity share in a luxury resort in Gazipur owned by a prominent industrial conglomerate, as stated by a recent investigation by media.

The Amber Group, a subsidiary of the Partex Group, spearheaded the development of the Bhawal Resort and Spa across 160 bighas of land in Naljani village, Bhawalgarh union, Gazipur Sadar upazila. The land’s current value is estimated to be around Tk32 crore.

In addition to facilitating the acquisition of land for the resort, Benazir Ahmed invested undisclosed earnings into ventures including Padma Bank, the Canadian University of Bangladesh, Best Western Premier and Hotel Ramada in Cox’s Bazar, Concorde Hotel and Suites in Dubai, and a gold business in Singapore.

The recent media investigation has unveiled the extensive property holdings of Benazir Ahmed, including ownership of a tourism resort, shares in a five-star hotel, deluxe apartments in upscale areas in Dhaka, and plots in Purbachal on the outskirts of the capital.

The vastness of his property portfolio appears disproportionate to his official earnings of Tk1.85 crore over his 34.7-year tenure before retiring as the 30th IGP.

Furthermore, during his tenure as the director general of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Benazir Ahmed is alleged to have abused his power by encroaching on forest land, as indicated by the investigation.

Among his assets, the Bhawal Resort boasts 62 villas along with amenities like a helipad, restaurant, gymnasium, swimming pool, spa, etc with premium suite rates exceeding Tk25,000 per night.

Forest officials revealed that construction work on the resort commenced after erecting a boundary wall on forest land, with regular police presence guarding the area. The locals were dismayed by the misuse of power, as exemplified by a police officer like Benazir Ahmed exploiting forest land for the resort.

Range Officer Masud Rana said Bhawal Resort unlawfully encroached upon 6.73 acres of forest land, facilitated by the influence of Benazir. He mentioned about the helplessness of forest department personnel in the face of Benazir’s power, noting that the developer illegally fenced off the forest land under police protection.

Despite these challenges, the forest department initiated an eviction case to reclaim the unlawfully occupied land, which is currently ongoing.

Locals expressed reluctance to confront the illegal land grabbing, particularly when approached by the Partex Group with the support of a “powerful police officer”.

Benazir frequently inspected the construction progress at Bhawal Resort, with local police stationed at the outpost providing round-the-clock security.
Salahuddin Ahmed, chairman of Bhawalgarh union, revealed that the resort is jointly owned by the son of the Partex Group founder and Benazir Ahmed, though he was unaware of their respective equity shares.

Investigations indicated that Benazir Ahmed purchased shares of Bhawal Resort under the names of his wife, Zeeshan Mirza, and daughters, Farheen Rishta Binte Benazir and Tahseen Raisa Binte Benazir.

Besides his investment in the elite Hotel Unique Regency in Banani, the former IGP has made significant financial ventures in two hotels in Cox’s Bazar, as well as acquiring ownership stakes in Padma Bank and Canadian University.

Benazir Ahmed has also made substantial investments in Dubai, Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia, utilising undisclosed earnings accumulated during his tenure as a senior police officer.

In Dubai, he holds a sizable stake in the luxurious Concorde Hotel and Suites, strategically located on Maktoum Street near prominent landmarks such as Dubai International Airport, Dubai Creek, and major shopping centres.

The hotel offers a range of modern accommodations, including apartments, executive suites, and standard rooms, with rental rates ranging from Tk10,000 to Tk45,000 per day.

Regarding Benazir’s foreign investments, it has been discovered that former he made these investments abroad without obtaining permission from the Bangladesh Bank. None of his companies was authorised to invest overseas, indicating that he may have engaged in money laundering to invest in various foreign ventures.

Furthermore, investigations have unveiled that Benazir obtained a substantial loan from Sonali Bank through questionable means, with the bank authorities acknowledging that loans were granted in the names of Benazir’s wife and children, yet declining to disclose the loan amount.

Benazir also holds investments in two luxury hotels, Best Western Premier and Hotel Ramada, located in Cox’s Bazar.
Additionally, the upscale Hotel Unique Regency in Banani received an equity investment from Benazir, where the nightly expense for a premium suite can reach up to Tk30,000.

In addition to these findings, he holds investments in the controversial Padma Bank during its founding period as Farmers Bank.

When news reporters attempted to obtain a statement from Benazir Ahmed regarding these allegations, they found him unavailable at his residence in Gulshan Rancon Icon Tower Lakeview. Despite repeated attempts to reach him, there was no response from him.

In response to the issue, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Commissioner Zahurul Haque said the corruption watchdog would investigate the matter based on specific evidence of the acquisition of illegal wealth through misuse of power.

Echoing similar sentiments, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman called for thorough investigations by all relevant ministries and government departments, including the ACC.

He underlined the need to determine the sources of assets disproportionate to Benazir’s legitimate income, as the law applies equally to all individuals.
He further highlighted Benazir Ahmed’s influence as the highest-ranked police officer, expressing concerns that ACC’s independence might be hindered in investigating his corruption. He stressed the importance of uncovering the truth, regardless of Benazir’s influence.

Despite these calls for investigation, TIB noted that ACC has not yet been able to investigate Benazir’s assets fully and take action against him, indicating the challenges posed by his influence.

Source: Kaler Kantho & Daily Sun

BDST: 1126 HRS, APR 03, 2024