ACC to take control of 2 flats owned by ex-land minister

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is set to unlock and take control of two flats in Dhaka's Gulshan owned by former Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed on July 19, in compliance with a court order issued as part of an ongoing corruption investigation.

The anti-graft watchdog will assume possession of the properties as the court-appointed receiver. Md Niloy Rahman, Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Gulshan Revenue Circle, will remain present as the executive magistrate when the flats are opened. An inventory of all movable assets inside the apartments will be prepared in his presence, ACC officials said.

According to ACC sources, the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's Court on April 29 permitted the commission to unlock the two flats and take control of them. Earlier, on January 12, the same court appointed the ACC as receiver of the properties. The commission subsequently sought permission to break the locks in the presence of an executive magistrate, which the court approved.

In its petition, the ACC said its Asset Management Unit would act as receiver to ensure the proper control, management, supervision and maintenance of the two flats.

The apartments are located on the eighth floor of the Chitra building, developed by Shanta Holdings Limited at Plot No. 11, Northwest B Block, Gulshan. One flat, designated A-7, measures 3,747 square feet, while the other, B-7, covers 3,832 square feet.

The ACC said any rental income generated from the two properties would subsequently be deposited into a designated bank account.

The move forms part of an investigation by a joint ACC inquiry team led by Deputy Director Md Mashiur Rahman into allegations of corruption, illicit enrichment, money laundering and acquisition of assets abroad against Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed.