ACC seizes 23 sacks of documents in raid linked to Saifuzzaman’s overseas assets

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has seized 23 sacks of documents during a raid at the home of the driver of former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury’s wife in Karnaphuli upazila, Chattogram.

The raid, conducted from late Saturday night until early Sunday morning, is part of an ongoing investigation into allegations that the former minister laundered money abroad and amassed wealth illegally under the guise of loans.

ACC officials said Saifuzzaman is facing multiple allegations of money laundering and illegal asset accumulation overseas. So far, six cases have been filed against him over the alleged embezzlement of Tk 124 crore. Just last week, another case was lodged against him, his wife Rukhmila Zaman, and eight others on charges of amassing wealth beyond known sources of income, bribery, and money laundering.

Following that case, two of the former minister’s close associates — Utpal Pal and Abdul Aziz — were arrested in Chattogram’s Double Mooring area. They are now on five-day remand. Based on information from them, ACC investigators raided the house of driver Md. Elias Talukdar, recovering the documents.

Officials confirmed that the same house had been raided earlier, but Elias had hidden the papers in an adjoining room. CCTV footage later revealed the move, prompting a fresh operation.

“We are currently verifying the seized documents,” said ACC Chattogram Deputy Director Subel Ahmed. “Only after review will we know the nature of these papers.”

Moshiur Rahman, ACC Deputy Director in Dhaka, added: “We recovered 23 sacks of documents from the driver’s home. These will be examined carefully before the next legal steps are taken. Earlier, we confirmed that Saifuzzaman owned properties in four countries. Now we have found evidence of houses in five more countries. We will check whether the seized documents contain related proof.”

In October last year, a court imposed a travel ban on Saifuzzaman and his wife. The former minister has been accused of laundering thousands of crores of taka to the United Kingdom and acquiring hundreds of properties there. According to the ACC, he purchased at least 350 houses in the UK under his and his family members’ names, in addition to amassing illegal wealth inside Bangladesh.

Saifuzzaman fled the country on August 5 last year after the fall of the Awami League government. On Thursday, the ACC petitioned a Chattogram court to issue a red notice against him and his wife. The court is set to give its order today.