Chattogram: A special court in Chattogram directed the Police Headquarters to seek Interpol’s assistance in issuing a ‘red notice’ for former Land Minister and Awami League lawmaker Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed and his wife, Rukhmila Zaman. This follows allegations of corruption and money laundering against the couple.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the order was issued by Chattogram Metropolitan Special Judge (Acting) Md Abdur Rahman after the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a petition. The petition, filed on September 18, aimed to facilitate the custody of the fugitive former minister, who previously served in the Hasina cabinet and represented the Chattogram-13 (Anwara-Karnaphuli) constituency.
Javed, along with his wife and other family members, reportedly left Bangladesh prior to the collapse of the previous Awami League government, which occurred amidst a month-long student-led uprising last year. Rukhmila Zaman was the Chairman of the Board of Directors of United Commercial Bank Ltd (UCBL) at the time.
Public Prosecutor of ACC’s Chattogram Integrated Office, Advocate Mokarram Hossain, confirmed to BSS that the court approved the petition, which seeks Interpol’s involvement in apprehending the former minister and his wife, both wanted by Bangladesh Police for extensive corruption activities, including laundering substantial amounts of money abroad.
The court has also ordered the freezing and attachment of significant assets owned by the couple, including 343 properties in the UK, 228 in the UAE, and 9 in the US, alongside other countries. Additionally, 39 bank accounts, containing deposits totaling TK 52.683 crore, have been frozen. Saifuzzaman’s shares valued at TK 102 crore and 957 bighas of land have also been seized as per the ACC’s application.
Md. Mashiur Rahman, ACC’s Deputy Director at Head Office, lodged another case against Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed, his wife, and 31 others, including family and employees, in July of the previous year. The ACC is also probing allegations against Javed, his wife, and fifty officials of UCBL for allegedly embezzling around TK 124 crore through false accounts.
Recently, the ACC arrested two of Javed’s local associates, Utpal Pal and Abdul Aziz, in the city’s Agrabad area on charges related to money laundering and illegal asset management. Information obtained from the associates led ACC officials to recover documents and files in 23 sacks linked to Javed’s assets and corruption from Sikderbari of Shikolbaha union under Karnaphuli upazila.
In separate court orders, travel bans have been imposed on Javed, his wife, close family members, and associates Utpal and Aziz.