In a major move against high-level corruption and money laundering, a Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of 330 houses, flats, and apartments owned by former Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury across eight countries. The total value of these assets is estimated at approximately BDT 2,320.92 crore.
The order was passed on Tuesday (January 13) by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md. Sabbir Foyez, following eight separate petitions filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Global Assets Under Legal Lockdown
The court has directed the attachment of properties and the freezing of investments in the following countries:
- USA: 40 flats and houses (valued at BDT 436.10 crore). Investments in two companies, ZTS Properties and Tanayem Properties, were also blocked.
- United Arab Emirates: 59 houses and flats (valued at BDT 698.92 crore).
- Cambodia: 117 houses, flats, and apartments (valued at BDT 432.85 crore).
- Malaysia: 47 houses and flats (valued at BDT 313.54 crore).
- Vietnam: 30 apartments and 3 flats (valued at BDT 163.85 crore).
- Thailand: 23 houses and flats (valued at BDT 136.29 crore).
- India: 9 houses and flats (valued at BDT 9.64 crore).
- Philippines: 2 flats (valued at BDT 7.69 crore).
Corruption and Money Laundering Allegations
The petitions were submitted by ACC Deputy Director Md. Morshedur Rahman. According to the ACC, Saifuzzaman Chowdhury accumulated this massive wealth through bribery, corruption, and various irregularities. The commission stated that the former minister laundered money abroad to build an international real estate empire while holding public office.
The ACC’s investigation gained momentum after several legal documents were recovered from the residence of one Osman Talukdar, a neighbor of the driver of Saifuzzaman Chowdhury’s wife, Rukmila Zaman.
National Interest
The court emphasized that bringing these assets back to the national exchequer is a matter of state necessity. Currently, several cases involving corruption and money laundering against Saifuzzaman Chowdhury are under active investigation.
