Home
+
Published : 05 Oct 2025, 05:37 PM
A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of six flats in Chattogram worth Tk 74.26 million belonging to former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury as part of an ongoing investigation into money laundering allegations.
The order was issued on Sunday by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Sabbir Foyez following an application from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), according to the commission’s spokesman Akhtarul Islam.
Alongside the six flats, the court also ordered the confiscation of a market in the port city's Agrabad area and a building within the Chattogram City Corporation area, registered under the names of Saifuzzaman, his wife Rukmila Zaman, and his siblings.
The court further directed the seizure of immovable properties belonging to several companies owned by the former minister and his family.
These include Aramit PLC in the Kalurghat Industrial Area, Aramit Cement Ltd, Aramit Thai Aluminium, Aramit Footwear Ltd, Aramit Power Ltd, Aramit Steel Pipes Ltd, and Aramit Alu Composite Panels Ltd.
The seizure application was filed by ACC Deputy Director Md Moshiur Rahman.
In its submission, the ACC said a nine-strong joint investigation team had been formed to look into allegations of money laundering involving Saifuzzaman, his associates, and related business entities.
“During the investigation, it was learnt through confidential sources that Saifuzzaman, his wife Rukmila Zaman, his brother Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, and other related persons and institutions were attempting to transfer or dispose of their immovable assets elsewhere,” the petition said.
“If these assets are transferred, there is a risk of significant loss to the state. Therefore, it is essential to seize these properties immediately.”
Saifuzzaman, the son of late Awami League leader Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury Babu, is a former member of parliament for Chattogram-13. He previously served as state minister for land in his first term and was later promoted to minister for the same ministry.
After the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024, the Anti-Corruption Commission launched an extensive investigation against him.
The court has already ordered the seizure of a large number of properties linked to Saifuzzaman and his wife in several countries, including 343 properties in the United Kingdom, 228 in the United Arab Emirates, and nine in the United States, as well as other assets elsewhere.
On Mar 4, 2024, the court ordered the freezing of 39 bank accounts held in their names, which together contain more than Tk 52.6 million.
On Oct 7, 2024, the court also imposed a travel ban on Saifuzzaman and Rukmila, preventing them from leaving Bangladesh. However, media reports have since indicated that both are currently living abroad.
