Three major events are currently in the news in the fastest time. Visa sanction against former army Chief General (retd) Aziz Ahmed for alleged involvement in corruption, the killing of Member of Parliament for Jhenaidah-4 Anwarul Azim in India and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) proceedings against former police Chief Benazir Ahmed, and the confusion over his stay in the country. The events happened in succession, and discussion of one is being discussed simultaneously rather than overshadowing the other.
The former Army Chief was not under US sanctions. The country imposed sanctions on Aziz Ahmed and his family soon after US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu visited Dhaka. The United States has not imposed new sanctions against Benazir Ahmed, but he was already covered by the country's sanctions. The name of Benazir Ahmed is among the seven former RAB officials who are being sanctioned by the US. ACC is going to take action even if there is no new decision against him. It is believed that Benazir Ahmed has fallen under the 'zero tolerance' policy of the government against corruption. While in charge, he was close to the government and influential.
After MP Anwarul Azim Anar went missing in India, it was reported that he had gone for medical treatment. After the news of his death, no medical information is forthcoming. After his tragic death, the past is coming forward with compassion, which is not happy for his family, embarrassing for the ruling party Awami League. He was a gold smuggler, involved in the hundi trade, one of the erstwhile terror groups in the south, an Interpol Red Notice criminal—these facts have come to light. The facts are so strong that it is more of a discussion than the usual sympathy for death. It is not just the participation of anti-government political groups in this discussion; rather, these have become more important than the familiarity of his public representatives among people of all walks of life.
Anwarul Azim Anar's body was not found even three weeks after the murder. Dhaka and Kolkata police are investigating. Exciting information coming. In the statement given by the police, so far it is not being claimed as a 'political murder'. The power and financial conflicts of crime empires are influential here. In the name of treatment, he went to India without informing anyone or hiding the information and from there to Kolkata, he was killed. In the past that comes to the fore after the death, the process of nomination of public representatives is being discussed. How the political parties nominate the controversial, this question is strongly raised. Although Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader said in response to this question, he was nominated due to popularity. A three-time MP of Anwarul Azim Anar, he was popular; this answer did not satisfy anyone, especially the last three elections cited here as examples. Because there are many questions about the popularity of any representative in these three elections!
Apart from the murder of Anwarul Azim Anar, two other incidents are related to corruption. New US sanctions against General (retd) Aziz Ahmed and his family on charges of interfering in the due process of state through corruption and aiding and abetting corruption. According to the United States, he assisted his brother in avoiding accountability for criminal activities. He worked closely with his brother to ensure that contracts or contracts were obtained unfairly in the military sector. He took bribes in exchange for government appointments for his own interests. On May 20, the Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud said, it is a matter of the army. Finance Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali also said similar things. Later, Road Communications and Bridges Minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said that the ACC can investigate the allegations against former army Chief Aziz Ahmed. This discussion is also ongoing, but so far no action has been seen from the side of the ACC.
ACC is now busy with former IGP Benazir Ahmed. On April 18, the ACC decided to investigate the allegations of acquiring illegal wealth against Benazir Ahmed. A three-member committee was formed to investigate the complaint and submit a report. As part of the investigation, letters were sent to Bangladesh Bank's Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) the following week seeking details of his bank transactions, letters were sent to Rajdhani Unnayan Kortipakkha (RAJUK), Gazipur Development Authority, Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh seeking information on immovable and immovable assets (Rehab), City Corporation, Land Office, Registry Office, National Board of Revenue and other offices. After receiving the information from the concerned departments, in view of the application of the ACC, Benazir Ahmed and his wife and children have 621 bigha of land, four flats in Dhaka and 33 bank accounts, shares of 19 companies and three BO accounts (Beneficiary Owners Accounts for trading shares) in the name of Benazir and his wife and children. And the order of seizure of Tk. 30 lakh and Savar's land came from the court.
It is already known that Benazir Ahmed is not in the country with his family. It is known that he went to Singapore in the first week of last month for treatment. Now no one can tell where he is.
Information about Benazir Ahmed's wealth during his tenure as RAB and police Chief was not disclosed. Why it was not published? There was only one—no one dared to open their mouths in fear. He was very powerful and close to the government. Police over-powers in recent years have left no one to speak out against him. However, he became the owner of this property while in office. And it certainly abuses power. The salary of a government official is not so much that someone can own a wealth of hundreds or thousands of money! The government's 'undue favor' has worked here, if not, is this possible?
Benazir Ahmed did not suddenly become the owner of such wealth. But the government did not know this? It's hard to believe. But has the government helped him? How to say did not? Why did Benazir get exemption from the government's 'zero tolerance' policy against corruption? Because maybe only one - control the whole force by trusting the police Chief! People like the Benazirs were exempted from the procedures followed to use the administration to counter political opponents. And in this concession, the owners of huge wealth and power have become legal and illegal.
However, the question is why is Benazir Ahmed, who was close to the government, facing legal action during that government? The answer is the US ban. US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu during his visit to Dhaka reiterated the commitment of both countries to work together on anti-corruption measures. Dhaka has a big show after the US sanctions against the former army Chief soon after Donald Lu's visit. Benazir Ahmed, who is under US sanctions on human rights issues, has become an "easy solution" in this case. Now Dhaka can tell Washington that the government has a zero tolerance policy against corruption regardless of the former rank and title.
The government has faced an image crisis after the US sanctions against former army Chief General (retd) Aziz Ahmed, the revelation of the black past after the assassination of MP Anwarul Azim Anar and the disclosure of the huge assets of Benazir Ahmed, who was already under US sanctions. Something big was needed to overcome this crisis. The ACC action against Benazir Ahmed, and the government's support for it, is part of an image rcovery effort.
Something we've seen before. After the casino scandal, the 'shadow' was removed from the Jubo League chairman and many others. This time probably moved from Aziz-Benazir. With Omar Farooq and many others, we have understood that shadow is only shadow. In the case of Benazirs, the invisible shadow may have moved! We see the body, but cannot see whose shadow it is; It cannot even be seen!