Court orders seizure of 6 flats, company assets linked to ex-minister Saifuzzaman in Ctg
The order covers six flats in Chattogram worth about Tk7.5 crore, including one on Nizam Road, one in Panchlaish, two in Lalkhan Bazar, one in East Nasirabad, and another on Chatteswari Road
A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of multiple properties and business assets belonging to former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, his wife Rukhmila Zaman, his brother Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, and associated entities, in connection with an ongoing money laundering probe.
Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Sabbir Foyez issued the order today (5 October) following a petition from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the commission's spokesperson Akhtarul confirmed.
The order covers six flats in Chattogram worth about Tk7.5 crore, including one on Nizam Road, one in Panchlaish, two in Lalkhan Bazar, one in East Nasirabad, and another on Chatteswari Road.
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The court also directed the seizure of equipment and shares from seven companies controlled by Saifuzzaman and his family: Aramit PLC in 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.
Other properties under attachment include Akhtaruzzaman Centre, a commercial market in Agrabad, and the residential building Volkart on Sarson Road within Chattogram City Corporation. These are registered under the names of Saifuzzaman, his wife, and his siblings.
The ACC application was submitted by Deputy Director Md Mosiur Rahman, who said a nine-member joint investigation team has been formed to investigate allegations of money laundering against the former minister and his associates.
During the investigation, the ACC learned from confidential sources that Saifuzzaman, his wife, his brother, and related entities were attempting to transfer or dispose of assets linked to the allegations, according to the application.
The application argued that such transfers would cause significant loss to the state, making an immediate attachment of the assets essential.
This is the latest in a series of court measures against the former minister.
On 5 March this year, the same court froze 39 bank accounts belonging to Saifuzzaman, which held Tk5.26 crore.
On 28 August, a court ordered the freezing of 120 bank accounts belonging to individuals associated with Saifuzzaman Chowdhury's interests. On 9 July, a court had also ordered the freezing of BO accounts of Saifuzzaman Chowdhury and 26 of his associates.
On 22 June, a travel ban was imposed on his three children. Earlier, on 7 October last year, a court imposed a travel ban on Saifuzzaman and his wife, Rukhmila Zaman.
