Minister: Benazir, Asaduzzaman should be given chance to respond to allegations

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said that former inspector general of police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed and former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia should be given the opportunity to respond to allegations of accumulating large amounts of wealth.

He made these comments while speaking to journalists at his office in the home ministry at the Secretariat on Thursday.

When asked about the allegations against Benazir Ahmed and Asaduzzaman Mia, the home minister said: "As far as I know, the talk is based on assumptions. No specific charges have been filed against Asaduzzaman Mia yet. I've heard claims about his assets, but he has not been summoned. Once he is, he will have the chance to explain. He surely has sources of income. Would he commit such a crime otherwise? He should be allowed to present his side. Given the chance, he will clarify how much of his wealth is legitimate."

The home minister emphasized: "The value of land has increased significantly over the years. For instance, land worth Tk10 lakhs ten years ago is now worth Tk2 crore. This explains why many people's wealth has grown manifold. The accused must respond to these complaints. If they can answer satisfactorily, the questions are settled. If not, then we can say they have acquired illegal wealth."

Regarding Benazir Ahmed, he added: "Benazir Ahmed has been on missions abroad for many years. We need to understand these aspects. He should explain how much money he brought back from these missions and how his wealth has increased. We should not make assumptions before he responds. If there are accusations, the government will take appropriate action against him."