Before his retirement in 2022, Benazir Ahmed was the highest-ranked police officer in Bangladesh.

He had a long service life spanning 34 years and seven months. He started the job in 1988 with a monthly salary of Tk1,470, while he ended his career in September 2022 with a salary of Tk78,000.

In total, he earned Tk1,84,89,200 from his salary and allowances during his service life, according to a report by the leading Bangla daily 'Kaler Kantho'.

Benazir Ahmed was the 30th Inspector General of Police (IGP). He retired on 30 September 2022. Earlier, he received the Bangladesh Police Medal (BPM), the highest police honour in Bangladesh, in 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2016. In 2021, he was also conferred with the ‘Shuddhachar Award’ (Integrity Award).

However, after his retirement, it emerged that this award-winning high-profile official had a long history of corruption. According to an independent investigation by journalists, the former IGP had piled up huge wealth in different parts of the country in the names of his wife and two daughters.

After joining the service in 1988 as a Grade 9 officer, Benazir Ahmed received a monthly salary of Tk1,470 as per the National Pay Scale 1977.

Accordingly, in the first three years of his service, he received a total salary of Tk52,920.

When he was later promoted to assistant superintendent of police (ASP), Benazir received a salary of Tk9,750 per month as per Grade 6 under the National Pay Scale 1997. In his four years of holding this post, his total salary stood at Tk4,68,000.

Until he was promoted to additional inspector general in 2001, his total salary amounted to Tk7,80,480 with a monthly salary of Tk10,840 as per Grade 6 under the National Pay Scale 1997.

Benazir used to receive Tk17,325 per month as AIG till 2007 as per Grade 5 under the National Pay Scale 2005. According to that, the total amount of his salary during that period was Tk16,63,200.

From 2007 to 2015, Benazir, as a Grade 2 additional IGP level officer, earned a total salary of Tk37,92,000 as per the National Pay Scale 2009 at a rate of Tk39,500 per month.

Later, from 2016 to the last stage of his career in 2022, he received a monthly salary of Tk78,000 as the Grade 1 officer under the National Pay Scale 2015.

According to that, his salary totalled Tk74,88,000 for these seven years.

As such, Benazir earned a total salary of Tk1,84,89,200 from the beginning to the end of his career.

In addition to this, this former IGP legally obtained some financial benefits by participating in various missions, including the United Nations ones, during his service career.

Asked about Benazir's corruption, former Cabinet Secretary Ali Imam Majumder said, “Law is equal for all. If someone acquires assets outside the fixed income, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) can investigate and take necessary measures against him.”

Dr Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), said since Benazir Ahmed was a vital person in the government if any information of corruption comes out against him, the government must look into the matter seriously. “All ministries and government departments concerned, including ACC, should conduct an in-depth investigation regarding the matter.”

Iftekharuzzaman said it is quite impossible for a government official to legally acquire such massive wealth. “If Benazir Ahmed really owns so much wealth, it is surprising.”

Stating that the former IGP’s corruption should be thoroughly investigated, he said the sources of wealth that are disproportionate to his legal income must be identified. “The whole scenario of his corruption must be exposed, as the law is equal for all.”

Source: Kaler Kantho & Daily Sun

BDST: 1225 HRS, APR 01, 2024