In violation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts regulations, former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed, his wife and daughters have bought more than 100 acres of land in Bandarban. On this land, the former police chief built cattle farms, fruit gardens and air-conditioned guest houses.
Bandarban district Shecchashebak League President Mong Waiching Marma and former officer-in-charge of Bandarban Sadar police station Mostafizur Rahman allegedly oversee the properties.
According to the locals, although the purchase and sale of leased land provided is prohibited, Benazir Ahmed, wife Zishan Mirza, elder daughter Farhin Rista Binte Benazir and younger daughter Tahsin Raisa Binte Benazir bought 25 acres of leased land from Shah Jahan, son of Abul Kashem of Madhyampara area of Bandarban municipality.
Benazir built cattle farms, fisheries projects, orchards, and a luxury farm house in the area. There are at least 37 cattle worth Tk50 lakh at the farmhouse. Besides, he has bought more than 50 acres of land in Tong Jhiri in the Sarai Doluchari area of Lama Upazila. Another 40 acres of land were bought in Harin Jhiri area of Suwalok.
Mong Wai Ching Marma and Mustafizur Rahman have allegedly helped Benazir take control of these lands.
While visiting the area, this reporter saw foreign cattle and fish farms, orchards, and air-conditioned two-storey building on a 25-acre land where there are workers busy with various tasks. The place was off-limits to the public when Benazir was the director general of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). However, former OC Mustafizur Rahman has visited the place several times.
According to the government servant's conduct, no government employee or his family members can open a business during service without the prior approval of the government. Even in the case of the purchase and sale of immovable or immovable property worth over Tk2.5 lakh, prior approval will be required. But Benazir has bought thousands of acres of land in different parts of the country.
Ledu Mia, the caretaker of the farmhouse, said that he has been taking care of the cows in this farm for the past month, and Mong Wai Ching has paid the salary on behalf of Benazir for this work.
On the other hand, the caretaker of a garden in Lama Upazila, Ibrahim, said he is currently looking after the 55-acre land, and he was previously paid by Mong Wai Ching Marma. However, he was not paid for the last five months.
According to the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord signed in 1997, no one can purchase land in the area unless he is a permanent resident of the hill tract area, but Benazir Ahmed is a permanent resident of Gopalganj by birth.
In this regard, the assistant to Bandarban Bomang King, Angjai Khayang, said: “One can buy land if they have Bomang King’s permanent resident certificate, national identity card, municipal citizen's certificate, and land in the name of his or her parents in the same area.”
Mong Wai Ching told this reporter that because Benazir Ahmed has 25 acres of land next to his place in the middle of Sualok, Benazir gave him the responsibility to visit and inspect them. Mong Wai Ching also said that he does not know anything about Benaz’s property in Lama.
Suwalok UP Chairman U Kynu Marma said: “I know that Benazir Ahmed has a piece of land in the middle of the upazila. Sometimes a superintendent of police and a former OC visited the place. Recently, a permit has been issued for the sale of trees.”
Bandarban Deputy Commissioner Shah Mojahid Uddin told reporters that there is no information about Benazir Ahmed's land in Bandarban or any matter related to forced occupation. Legal action will be taken, subject to investigation in this regard.
On December 10, 2021, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions against RAB, Benazir, and five other current and former members of the elite force under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.
On May 28, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) summoned Benazir Ahmed for questioning over allegations of accumulating illegal wealth on June 6. However, sources say Benazir has already left the country for Singapore along with his family members.
Earlier, a Dhaka court first ordered the confiscation of 345 bighas of land belonging to Benazir and his family members and 33 bank accounts in their names in various public and private banks on May 23.
Following this, the court also ordered the seizure of several more immovable properties and the freezing of additional movable assets in 119 documents.