Travel ban imposed on ex-land minister Saifuzzaman, wife

Saifuzzaman, former Land Minister of Bangladesh

Dhaka, Oct 7 —A Dhaka court has imposed a travel ban on former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed and his wife, Rukmila Zaman over allegations of corruption.

Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Ash Shams Mohammad Zoglul Hossain passed the order in response to a petition from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Monday.

Saifuzzaman is accused of amassing and laundering thousands of crores of taka across various foreign states, particularly in the United Kingdom. The ACC's petition claimed that the former minister has allegedly acquired 350 properties in the UK, 228 in the UAE, and nine in the US, registered under his name and those of his family members.

"Based on various records, it appears that Saifuzzaman has also created significant assets in the country through graft money. From reliable sources, we suspect that the accused and his wife may attempt to flee the country. Therefore, a travel ban should be imposed on them to ensure a thorough investigation," stated the ACC's plea.

ACC Deputy Director Ram Prasad Mondal filed the petition and was presented to the court by public prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam. - UNB