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Published : 08 May 2025, 08:26 PM
A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of five properties, including a house, flats, and land plots, owned by Lutfun Tahmina Khan, wife of former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, over allegations of corruption.
The order, issued on Thursday by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Galib, also directed authorities to freeze six bank accounts held by her, which reportedly contain Tk 75.8 million.
The ruling came following a petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director Md Zainal Abedin, the agency’s spokesperson Akhtarul Islam confirmed.
The properties to be seized include a four-storey building measuring 3,400 square feet on a 5.57-katha plot in Dhaka’s Manipuripara under Tejgaon Police Station, two additional plots measuring 5.76 decimal with an old two-unit structure in the same neighbourhood, a 1.34-decimal plot nearby, and a 1,872 square feet flat in Mirpur’s Pallabi.
The declared value of the properties is Tk 60.1 million.
The national anti-graft agency alleged that Tahmina amassed wealth worth Tk 154.7 million “beyond known sources of income” while her husband held the home ministry portfolio.
It also flagged suspicious transactions worth Tk 437 million across multiple bank accounts held in her name and in businesses she owned partially.
These transactions, it said, involve “illegal transfers, conversions and movements of funds”, which violate sections 4(2) and 4(3) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2012.
In its submission to the court, the commission warned that the accused had been trying to transfer ownership of the disputed assets.
“During the investigation, reliable sources confirmed that the accused were attempting to transfer properties linked to this case. If allowed, it would defeat the purpose of the entire investigation,” the ACC petition read.
It added that attachment of the immovable assets and freezing of the movable assets are essential to facilitate eventual confiscation in the government's favour upon the conclusion of the trial.
Following the fall of the Awami League government on Aug 5, 2025, Asaduzzaman has not made any public appearance.
On Aug 14 last year, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) ordered the freezing of bank accounts belonging to the former minister, his wife, and their children.
Police later arrested Asaduzzman’s son Safi Muddasser Khan Jyoti in the capital on Sept 14.
