Govt won't protect Benazir, Aziz: Salman
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said that actions will be taken as per the law once anyone violates rules, he said
The government will not provide any protection to former inspector general of police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed and former army chief General (retd) Aziz Ahmed, said the Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser, Salman F Rahman, today (29 May).
"The law will take its own course," he told reporters after a meeting at the Ministry of Home Affairs.
His remarks came as the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) launched an inquiry into whether Benazir and his family members possess any assets abroad.
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A letter was sent to the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) on Tuesday to initiate a search for any overseas assets in the names of Benazir and his family members, an ACC source told The Business Standard.
Asked whether the government is embarrassed at the allegations against the former chiefs of the army and the police, Salman F Rahman, said, "Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has said action will be taken as per law once anyone violates rules. I don't think the government will feel any embarrassment here.
"He [Quader] has said no matter how influential the person is, the government will not give any protection to anyone."
Regarding the murder of MP Anwarul Azim Anar in India, he said, "We are all shocked over the matter. You know that the matter is under investigation and I think it will not be right to make any comment until the investigation ends."
Meanwhile, a Supreme Court lawyer has urged the ACC to launch an inquiry into the allegations against General (retd) Aziz Ahmed.
According to the inquiry petition filed by lawyer Salah Uddin Regan, the recent US sanction against the former army chief over corruption charges tarnished the image of the Bangladesh army and the country.
ACC Inquiry
According to sources, the ACC suspects that Benazir's family may be involved in money laundering abroad, following allegations that the former police chief amassed substantial assets beyond his known holdings.
The commission has requested the BFIU to provide documentation of Benazir's assets in Dubai, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.
Additionally, the BFIU was urged to send Mutual Legal Assistance Requests, an agreement between countries to exchange information for enforcing public or criminal laws, to these countries.
Several high-level ACC sources have confirmed that the aforementioned countries have been contacted through the BFIU, seeking information on the Benazir family's wealth.
Earlier, on 23 April, the ACC secretary informed the media that a committee had been formed to investigate Benazir's assets outside his known sources of income.
