UAE has no record of Benazir leaving country, state minister tells parliament

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir today told parliament that UAE foreign ministry officials had confirmed they had no information indicating that former IGP Benazir Ahmed had left the country.

The state minister made the remarks while responding to a notice from Jamaat MP Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem regarding the extradition of Benazir, who was recently arrested in Dubai.

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In his notice under Section 147(1), Mir Ahmad said a media report had claimed that Benazir was released on bail and left Dubai for Saint Lucia.

He demanded a full account of all steps taken, including sending a formal extradition request for the former IGP within the stipulated 30 days.

He also sought updates on the investigation into the alleged fraudulent acquisition of passports from six countries while Benazir was in government service, as well as steps taken and planned to bring him back from Saint Lucia and seize his illegal assets at home and abroad.

Taking part in the discussion, Humaiun said Benazir and his associates were “enemies of the nation”.

“Against such enemies, we must stand united,” he said.

He said Mir Ahmad was not wrong but perhaps lacked some information.

The state minister said the Bangladesh embassy had already alerted UAE authorities and requested their agencies to keep Benazir under watch.

“The long hand of justice will claw back every terrorist who has fled this country,” he said.

Currently, Bangladesh has no active bilateral extradition treaty with the UAE. However, exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis, Humaiun said.

“We will pursue diplomatic pressure, and for that, unity is essential,” he said.

“Home ministry is working closely with the law ministry, while the foreign ministry is actively pursuing diplomacy to ensure that, under these exceptions, this notorious terrorist and brutal killer can be brought back.”