Former IGP Benazir Ahmed's Savanna Eco Resort and Natural Park, which came under government control following a court order, earned Tk 326,461 over the past six days.
The oversight committee has deposited these funds into the government treasury.
ACC Gopalganj Deputy Director Md Moshiur Rahman provided this information on Thursday.
The ACC official said: “The government operated the Savanna Eco Resort and Natural Park of former IGP Benazir Ahmed from last Friday under the supervision of the Gopalganj District Administration.”
From Friday to Wednesday, the park earned Tk271,005 from entry fees, ride fees, and food sales. Additionally, selling reeds brought in Tk20,000, and mango sales from the park’s trees generated Tk48,216. In total, the park's income amounted to Tk326,461.
On Thursday, all of these funds were deposited into a bank account managed by the oversight committee’s convenor, Gopalganj Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kazi Mahbubul Alam.
Following a court order, the oversight committee opened Savanna Park to the public last Friday at 10am under the district administration’s management. From that morning, visitors paid an entry fee of Tk100.
Govt takes control over Benazir's resort seized upon court orderOn June 4, citing server issues, the park authorities temporarily closed the park. It remained closed until the district administration took control of the park on June 7 by appointing a receiver following a court order.
On June 13, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) formed a six-member oversight committee to oversee the park's maintenance and management activities.
According to the ACC, Benazir Ahmed built the Savanna Eco Resort and Natural Park on 621 bighas of land in Bairagitol upazila in Sadar upazila while he was the director general of Rapid Action Battalion from 2015 to 2020 and inspector general of police from 2020 to 2022.
Locals claimed members of Hindu community owned the lands and they were forced, threatened and tricked into selling their lands, A significant portion of the lands were even grabbed. The ACC, however, opened a probe following the media reports on Benazir’s wealth. Later, the court ordered to seize Benazir’s and his family’s properties including Savanna Eco Resort and Natural Park.
