Now Benazir's N'ganj bungalow seized
The district administration took control of the resort in compliance with a court order
A luxurious bungalow of former inspector general of police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed located in Narayanganj's Rupganj upazila was confiscated today.
District Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Md Shafiqul Alam said the district administration took control of the resort in compliance with a court order.
"The doors of the house could not be opened due to a digital lock system. We will come back on Monday with a decision on this matter. It has been decided to keep the [pet] birds and dogs inside. The caretakers inside will also stay here [in the meantime]."
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A team of the Anti-Corruption Commission was also present during the drive.
Mainul Hasan Rawshani, deputy director of the coordinated district office of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), said, "The estimated value of the bungalow cannot be said now. Whether this bungalow will be used like the Savanna Eco Resort will be disclosed with the next decision of the district administration."
Following a court order to seize the property as part of the ongoing legal action against the former IGP, a team consisting of district administration and district ACC officials began raiding the bungalow located at Anand Housing in Rupganj at about 4:00pm.
A notice of confiscation was hung at the main gate.
According to locals, the bungalow was built on 24 khatas of land next to the lake in Anand Housing.
The former IGP reportedly bought the place for Tk1.83 crore from the children of the late Premanand Sarkar of the area about eight years ago. Benazir then built the house on the land in 2022.
Benazir's assets were seized for the third time after a court order in June. This bungalow was on the list of assets up for confiscation. Its value is reportedly around Tk10 crore.
The court ordered the seizure of 648 bighas of land in Gopalganj and Madaripur, 19 company shares, and four flats in Gulshan in first two phases in the name of Benazir and his family.
Additionally, the court ordered the freezing of Tk30 lakh in savings certificates, 33 financial accounts, and three BO accounts.
Of them, 33 financial accounts were frozen and properties of 83 deeds were attached. Among the 33 accounts, 23 bank accounts, four credit cards and six BO accounts in the name of Benazir and his wife, Zeeshan Mirza, and children in various public and private banks were ordered to be blocked.
Also on that day, 345 bighas (114 acres) of land held by the former IGP, his wife, two daughters, and a relative were ordered to be seized.
According to ACC investigation, land was purchased in the name of Benazir and his family members in several upazilas of Gopalganj, as well as Inani sea beach and St Martin's Island of Cox's Bazar.
In the second phase, on 26 May, the same court ordered the seizure of 276 bighas of land in Madaripur in the name of Benazir's wife and four flats in Gulshan in the name of his family.
Benazir and his family members acquired almost all their land during his tenure as the chief of the police and the Rapid Action Battalion, according to property records listed by the ACC.
After reviewing documents, it was also found that Benazir and his family bought four flats in Rancon Icon Tower. Although Benazir's asset statement listed the value of these four flats totalling 9,192 square feet at Tk2.19 crore, several members of the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the actual value of these flats is Tk22–23 crore.
The four flats were bought on the same day, 5 March of the previous year. Three of the flats are in the name of Zeeshan, chairman of Savannah Eco Resort Limited. The other flat is in the name of Benazir's younger daughter.
On the same day, the shares of 19 companies, three BO accounts, and savings certificates worth Tk30 lakh in the names of the former IGP, his wife, and children were ordered to be frozen. Some land in Savar were also included in the same order.
In the third phase, the court ordered the seizure of eight flats and 27 khatas of land belonging to Benazir, his wife, and children. These flats are located in Badda and Adabar in Dhaka, and the land is situated in Narayanganj, and three acres of land in Uttara.
Furthermore, the court ordered the blocking of shares of Citizen Television and Tiger Craft Apparels Limited belonging to the former IGP.
Then on 4 July, the court issued order to seize a farmhouse in Bandarban and the bungalow in Narayanganj. In Bandarban, the farmhouse that included fish ponds and livestock farms was taken over by the district administration. There are about 75 bighas of land in Bandarban.
Benazir's doctorate degree has also been questioned. Regarding his doctorate degree, the Senate of Dhaka University has demanded its cancellation. However, Dhaka University has not taken any action in this regard so far.
