Bangladesh is awaiting a final response from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after submitting all necessary legal documents seeking the extradition of former inspector general of police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said on Friday.
Speaking to reporters after a discussion and award ceremony organised by the Department of Narcotics Control to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2026 at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka, Salahuddin said the UAE Federal Police had informed the Bangladesh government by email following Benazir Ahmed's arrest.
The UAE authorities subsequently asked Bangladesh to submit the required documents within 30 days.
"The Bangladesh government completed all legal and institutional documentation within just three days and sent it to the UAE through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," he said.
The Bangladesh Embassy in Abu Dhabi formally handed over the documents to the UAE authorities a few days ago, he added.
Asked whether reports that Benazir possessed another country's passport could complicate the extradition process, Salahuddin said Bangladesh was still awaiting the UAE's response.
"As far as we know, he is in the custody of the UAE Federal Police. We do not have any other information," he said.
BGB foiled all illegal push-in attempts
The adviser also said not a single person had been allowed to enter Bangladesh through illegal push-ins because of the strict vigilance maintained by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) along the country's frontiers.
He said pushing individuals across the border without prior verification was neither a proper procedure nor one recognised under international norms.
"If India has a list of Bangladeshi nationals staying there illegally, it can provide the information through diplomatic channels or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Bangladesh government will verify their nationality through due process and, if confirmed, bring them back through legal procedures," he said.
Referring to claims made in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly that 10,000 people had been pushed back into Bangladesh, Salahuddin said the Bangladesh government had no documentary evidence or verified statistics to support the assertion.
He praised the BGB for remaining on maximum alert across all frontiers, saying the force had successfully thwarted any attempts by India's Border Security Force (BSF) to push people into Bangladesh.
The adviser also suggested that the recent push-in activities along the border might have been part of a political agenda following recent elections in the Indian state of West Bengal.
Govt hopeful of Hadi murder suspects' extradition
Providing an update on the murder case of Shaheed Osman Hadi, Salahuddin said three of the principal suspects had been arrested by Indian law enforcement agencies in Bongaon, West Bengal.
Judicial proceedings had already begun in India after a case was filed under the country's laws, he said.
According to the adviser, Bangladesh has formally sought the return of the accused under the extradition treaty between the two countries by sending the necessary legal documents and arrest warrants to the Indian authorities.
"We are hopeful of their early handover to Bangladesh," he said.
Senior Home Ministry Secretary Manjur Morshed Chowdhury, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammad Ali Hossain Fakir and other senior officials of the ministry were present at the briefing.