Court orders seizure of Saifuzzaman’s foreign assets

A Dhaka court yesterday ordered the relevant authorities to confiscate 330 foreign properties owned by former minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury and his related persons and entities in connection with corruption allegations.

The properties include condominiums, apartments and villas. They were bought between January 2011 and September 2023, shows the documents submitted by the Anti-Corruption Commission before the court.

Of the 330 properties, 117 are located in Cambodia, 59 in the UAE, 47 in Malaysia, 40 in the US, 33 in Vietnam, 23 in Thailand, nine in India and two in the Philippines, according to ACC records.

Judge Md Sabbir Faiz of the Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s Court in Dhaka yesterday passed separate orders after ACC Deputy Director Md Moshiur Rahman, who is the head of the enquiry, filed eight applications with the court, said Riaz Hossain, bench assistant of the court.

“During the course of enquiry, it has been learned through confidential sources that Saifuzzaman Chowdhury along with his related persons and entities is attempting to transfer or dispose of their immovable properties to other parties,” said ACC official Moshiur Rahman in the applications.

If the immovable properties are transferred or relocated, there is a strong likelihood of substantial loss to the state.

“So, it is imperative that the said properties be immediately confiscated and that the confiscation orders are transmitted to the concerned country through MLAR for collecting evidence,” he added.