Court freezes 39 bank accounts of ex-land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury

The Anti-Corruption Commission seeks to prevent any potential transfer or disposal of assets during its money laundering probe against him

A Dhaka court has ordered the attachment of 39 bank accounts belonging to former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, which hold a total of Tk 52.68 million.

Dhaka's Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Galib issued the order on Wednesday following a petition from the Anti-Corruption Commission, or ACC.

ACC Assistant Director Aminul Islam revealed that an investigation into money laundering allegations against Saifuzzaman was ongoing. "Today, the court granted our request to freeze 39 of his bank accounts," he said.

According to the ACC, the accounts were frozen to prevent any potential transfer or disposal of assets while the investigation was active.

Earlier, on Oct 17, the court ordered the seizure of 580 properties, including houses, apartments and land, both in Bangladesh and abroad, registered under the names of Saifuzzaman and his family.

Among these, 343 properties are in the United Kingdom, 228 in the United Arab Emirates, and nine in the United States.

The court also ordered the freezing of two bank accounts held by the former Awami League MP in the UAE and one in Bangladesh.

On Oct 7, the court also imposed a travel ban on Saifuzzaman and his wife Rukhmila Zaman.