ACC raids former Land Minister Saifuzzaman's Gulshan flats again

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is conducting a second day of raids at the Gulshan flats of former Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed, as part of a court-ordered inventory of assets.

ACC Public Relations Officer Md Akhtarul Islam confirmed the matter on Monday (July 20). He said a special team led by ACC Deputy Director Md Mashiur Rahman is carrying out the operation. The inventory process continues following Sunday's recovery of assets, with details to be disclosed after the operation ends.

Sunday's raid uncovered a large quantity of luxury items, including over 300 coats, more than 532 ties, eight watch boxes (including four Rolexes), three sets of pearl jewellery, four chandeliers, a bed, a sofa, and about 100 shirts. According to purchase receipts, the Rolex watches cost between $14,000 and $17,500 each.

The ACC began investigating Jabed after the change of government. A nine-member team led by Deputy Director Mashiur Rahman is handling the inquiry. Cases have been filed against him, his wife Rukmila Zaman, former UCB Bank chairman, and their associates.

On July 2, a court ordered the ACC to take control of two Gulshan flats and assigned an executive magistrate to assist with the inventory. Earlier, the court ordered the confiscation of 518 flats and apartments owned by Jabed in the UK, as well as properties in eight countries including UAE, and froze his investments in two US-based companies. The total estimated value of these assets is approximately Tk 2,320 crore 92 lakh.

Jabed served as State Minister for Land from 2014 to 2018 and as Land Minister from 2019 to 2023.