Play store
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has received records of bank accounts, businesses and properties in the United States belonging to former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury and his wife, Rukmila Zaman.
Bangladesh had sought assistance from US authorities to freeze and confiscate assets allegedly acquired through criminal proceeds and held by the couple in the United States.
In response, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), through the US central authority, has provided an investigation report and property records to Bangladesh.
The information was disclosed in a letter from the ACC’s Money Laundering-2 branch. ACC Public Relations Officer Aktarul Islam confirmed the matter on Monday.
According to the letter, the US Central Authority, Office of International Affairs (OIA), received Bangladesh’s Mutual Legal Assistance Request (MLAR) concerning Saifuzzaman Chowdhury and Rukmila Zaman on May 19, 2025.
The request sought records of their bank accounts, businesses and properties in the US, as well as assistance in freezing and confiscating assets allegedly linked to criminal proceeds.
Following the request, the FBI provided property records mentioned in its investigation report. The documents were sent to the ACC on a CD.
However, the US authorities have not yet provided all the information requested in the MLAR. The letter said Washington would respond separately to the remaining requests for records and information.
US officials are also handling the portion of the request concerning the freezing and confiscation of assets held in the country.
Trial Attorney Maria Lerner and International Affairs Specialist Hira Shahbaz have been assigned to the matter, according to the letter. The ACC has been informed that a separate response will be issued on the asset-related request.
According to ACC records, the documents received from the US were forwarded to the relevant ACC officials for necessary action following a letter from the Political-3 Branch of the Ministry of Home Affairs dated August 18.
Officials familiar with the matter said MLARs are an important mechanism for obtaining information about assets, bank accounts and business interests held abroad.
The FBI’s investigation report and property records received from the US will now be scrutinised as part of the ACC’s ongoing inquiry or investigation.
Based on the information contained in the records, the ACC may take further steps to determine the source and ownership of the assets and trace the movement of funds.
