ACC brings two charges against former land minister Saifuzzaman over ‘Tk 750mn bribery’

His wife, Rukmila Zaman, has also been named as a defendant

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has brought two charges against former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed, accusing him of taking bribes amounting to Tk 750 million from two businesses.

His wife, Rukmila Zaman, former chairperson of the United Commercial Bank PLC (UCB), has also been named as a defendant in both cases.

Several current and former employees of the bank and Aramit Group, both owned by the family, have also been named as suspects.

ACC Deputy Director Subel Ahmed said that the cases were initiated by Assistant Director Rubel Hossain at the ACC's Chattogram district office on Monday.

The two cases allege that Saifuzzaman received Tk 550 million in bribes from HM Ship Breaking Industries Limited and Tk 200 million from Well Mart Limited (Textile unit).

The charges claim that the companies obtained loans from Javed's family-owned UCB to pay these bribes.

One case alleges that the former minister "abused his power, engaged in deception and forgery" to take a Tk 550 million bribe from Sarwar Alam, the owner of HM Ship Breaking Industries Ltd, and laundered the money abroad.

The money was reportedly transferred from Sarwar's loan accounts at UCB to institutions owned by Saifuzzaman, used for loan instalment payments and laundered overseas.

The other case accuses him of transferring a Tk 200 million loan, sanctioned for Well Mart Group, to accounts at UCB opened in the names of officials from his company, Aramit Group.

On Sunday, a Chattogram court ordered Interpol to issue a red notice for both the former minister and his wife.

Saifuzzaman, the son of late Awami League leader Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury Babu and former MP for Chattogram-13, had previously served as state minister and later minister for land.

Following the political changeover in August 2024, the ACC began investigating his wealth.