Staff Correspondent

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) chairman Dr Abdul Momen  said the United Kingdom government seized assets of former Bangladesh land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed and the estimated cost of the assets is about Tk 1,060 crore on Monday.

“With proper dealing of the case, we will be able to bring all the money to Bangladesh,” he said at a press conference at its Segunbagicha office.

The ACC chairman said former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed purchased 580 flats abroad, including 343 in the United Kingdom (UK) with the money, which he reportedly laundered from Bangladesh.

“The estimated value of Javed’s seized properties in the UK is approximately £73.15 million, equivalent to Tk 1,025 crore in Bangladeshi currency, he added.

Additionally, Javed’s bank deposits are estimated  at approximately £2.5 million — equivalent to Tk 35 crore in the UK.

Momen said that during a recent official visit to the UK, the ACC held meetings with the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA), where a preliminary list of individuals suspected of money laundering was shared.

"This cooperation enabled us to identify and move forward with the seizure of a large amount of assets owned by the former land minister," he said.

The ACC chairman thanked to the NCA for seizure of those properties.

He said that the government has been working to bring fugitive accused under the extradition Act, 1974 and bilateral agreements with different countries, adding, “Efforts are also underway to bring back them under the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC).”

Earlier, a court on October 16, 2024 issued seizure order and a Mutual Legal Assistance Request (MLAR) was subsequently submitted to the UK's central authority.