Ex-land minister Saifuzzaman, 35 others charged in UCB money laundering case
The embezzlement occurred between 13 October 2019 and 13 February 2020
A Chattogram court today (11 March) framed charges against 36 individuals, including former Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over the alleged embezzlement of Tk25 crore from United Commercial Bank (UCB) and its transfer abroad via hundi.
Judge Mizanur Rahman of the Chattogram Divisional Special Judge Court issued the charge-framing order and set 5 April for the start of the trial, ACC public prosecutor Mokarram Hossain confirmed
The case, originally filed on 24 July 2025 by ACC Deputy Director Md Moshiur Rahman at the Chattogram District Office-1, had its charge sheet submitted on 5 January this year at the Chattogram Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Court.
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According to the charge sheet, Forman Ullah Chowdhury, protocol officer of Saifuzzaman's Aramit Group, was listed as the owner of a shell company, Vision Trading, which received a Tk25 crore loan from UCB. Saifuzzaman allegedly diverted the funds abroad via hundi and purchased assets through his employees. The embezzlement occurred between 13 October 2019 and 13 February 2020.
The main accused are former minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed and his wife, former UCB chairperson Rukmila Jahan. Other prominent defendants include former director Asifuzzaman Chowdhury, Roksana Jahan Chowdhury, Bashir Ahmed, Afroza Jahan, Syed Kamruzzaman, Md Shah Alam, Md Jonaid Shafiq, Aparup Chowdhury, Tauhid Rafiquzzaman, Yunus Ahmed, Haji Abu Kalam, Nurul Islam Chowdhury, former chairman MA Sabur, and former acting managing director Arif Qadri.
Bank officials named include Mohammad Ekram Ullah, Abdul Hamid Chowdhury, Abdur Rouf Chowdhury, Ziaul Karim Khan, Mir Mesbah Uddin Hossain, and Bazlul Ahmed Babul.
Fourteen employees of Aramit Group are also accused, along with assistant general manager Utpal Paul, Pradeep Kumar Biswas, Md Zahid, Md Shahid, Md Suman, Ilias Talukdar, and Osman Talukdar.
The defendants face charges under sections 406, 409, 420, 467, 468, 471, and 109 of the Penal Code, as well as sections 5(2) of the Anti-Corruption Act and 4(2) and 4(3) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act.
On 24 July 2025, ACC Deputy Director Md Moshiur Rahman filed the case at the Chattogram District Office-1. Of the 31 original accused, two had died, and it was recommended that they be excluded from judicial proceedings.
Including seven others identified during the investigation, the charge sheet was filed against a total of 36 accused. The case lists 92 witnesses. Eight accused appeared in court yesterday.
ACC Public Prosecutor Mokarram Hossain said this is the first ACC case against Saifuzzaman to reach charge framing. Of the 36 accused, eight are currently in custody.
