Verdict against ex-land minister, 35 others on Nov19

A court in Chattogram will deliver its verdict on November 19 in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over the alleged embezzlement of Tk 25 crore from United Commercial Bank PLC (UCBL) and laundering of the money abroad through hundi. Former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed and 35 others are accused in the case.

Chattogram Divisional Special Judge Mizanur Rahman fixed the date on Wednesday after hearing arguments from both sides.

ACC Public Prosecutor Mokarram Hossain said 56 witnesses had testified in the case. Following the conclusion of arguments, the court set November 19 for the verdict.

The accused include former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed, 56; his wife Rukmila Zaman, 46, a former chairperson of UCBL; and former directors Asifuzzaman Chowdhury, 46, and Roksana Zaman Chowdhury, 56.

Other former directors named in the case are Bashir Ahmed, 55; Afroza Zaman, 48; Syed Kamruzzaman, 61; Md Shah Alam, 62; Md Jonaid Shafique, 64; Aparup Chowdhury, 65; Touhid Sipar Rafiquzzaman, 66; Yunus Ahmed, 79; Abu Kalam, 79; Nurul Islam Chowdhury, 62; former chairman MA Sabur, 77; and former acting managing director Arif Qadri, 64.

Former bank officials among the accused are Mohammad Ekram Ullah, 51; Abdul Hamid Chowdhury, 50; Abdur Rouf Chowdhury; Ziaul Karim Khan, 46; Mir Mesbah Uddin Hossain, 62; and Bazzal Ahmed Babul, 56.

Several employees and officials of Javed's family-owned Aramit Group are also accused. They include Mohammad Farman Ullah Chowdhury, 51; Mohammad Misbahul Alam, 50; Abdul Aziz, 39; Mohammad Jahangir Alam, 54; Mohammad Hossain Chowdhury, 48; Yasinur Rahman, 43; Yusuf Chowdhury, 45; Saiful Islam, 45; Aramit Group Assistant General Manager Utpal Pal, 51; Pradip Kumar Biswas, 51; Md Zahid, 45; Md Shahid, 49; Md Sumon, 39; Ilias Talukder, 50; and Osman Talukder, 48.

According to the charge sheet, Farman Ullah Chowdhury, a protocol officer of Aramit Group, was allegedly presented as the owner of a shell company named Vision Trading to secure a Tk 25 crore loan from UCBL.

The charge sheet alleges that Javed later withdrew the money through his employees and transferred it abroad through hundi to purchase properties. The alleged embezzlement took place between October 13, 2019, and February 13, 2020.

On July 24, 2025, ACC Deputy Director Mohammad Masihur Rahman filed the case at the commission's Chattogram District Office-1 against Javed, his wife and 29 others.

Two of the 31 accused named in the case have since died. The investigation officer recommended excluding them from the trial proceedings in the charge sheet.

The investigation officer submitted the charge sheet to the Chattogram Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's Court on January 5.

sks