The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against five individuals, including former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed, for allegedly obtaining a second passport through forgery, bypassing the required no objection certificate (NOC) from the police department.
The case was filed by ACC Deputy Director Hafizul Islam at the commission's integrated district office in Dhaka, ACC Deputy Director and Public Relations Officer Akhtarul Islam confirmed to UNB.
The other accused in the case are former Director of the Dhaka Division Passport Office, Mohammad Fazlul Haque, former Director Munshi Muyeed Ikram, current Director Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun, and Technical Manager of the e-Passport and Automated Border Control Project, Sahena Haque.
Benazir Ahmed, who previously held senior positions such as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) at Police Headquarters, Additional IGP, Director General of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and Commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), is accused of applying for machine readable passports (MRP) and e-passports without obtaining the necessary departmental clearance. Despite being in police service, he allegedly declared his profession as "private service" on the applications.
According to the ACC, the accused officials, fully aware of Benazir Ahmed’s true identity and official status, knowingly facilitated the process by approving both an ordinary passport and an official e-passport without proper verification. This misconduct is being prosecuted under several sections of the Penal Code. Additionally, they are charged under section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, and section 11 of the Bangladesh Passport Order, 1973.
This case follows a recent ACC asset declaration notice served to Benazir Ahmed and his family.
