UNB, Dhaka:

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Monday said former inspector general of police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed can travel anywhere in the world as no ban has been issued against him anywhere.

“Look, there has been no travel ban against him – neither from any court nor from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC),” he told reporters while responding to a question at a media briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after his return from Antigua and Barbuda, and New York, USA.

According to media reports, Benazir, his wife, and their daughters left Dhaka on a Singapore Airlines flight on the night of 4 May.

The foreign minister said it remains to be seen whether the former police chief appears before the ACC on 6 June.

The ACC said they summoned Benazir for questioning over allegations of accumulating illegal wealth. Additionally, the commission summoned his wife and daughters for questioning on 9 June.

On 23 April, the anti-graft watchdog decided to investigate the allegations against Benazir and his family.

Subsequently, the ACC requested various financial institutions, including the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), to provide transaction records concerning Benazir and his family members.

On 23 May, a Dhaka court first ordered the confiscation of 345 bighas of land belonging to the ex-IGP and his family members, and 33 bank accounts in their names in various public and private banks.

On 26 May, the court also ordered the seizure of more immovable properties valued in crores of taka and the freezing of additional movable assets in 119 documents.

Responding to a separate question, the foreign minister said the government transparently runs the country and they have no influence over the Anti-Corruption Commission. “The ACC is working independently and transparently.”

Hasan Mahmud also said the judiciary is working independently.