Staff Reporter :
Nearly a year after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government amid a landmark student-led uprising, a joint investigation by The Guardian and Transparency International has uncovered a complex web of alleged corruption involving former ministers and politically connected business elites.
The report details how hundreds of millions of dollars were reportedly transferred out of Bangladesh and invested in high-end properties across London’s most prestigious areas.
From a £35 million flat in Mayfair to Georgian townhouses near Regent’s Park, these revelations highlight a stark contrast between the lavish lifestyles of the ruling elite and the worsening economic inequality in Bangladesh.
The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) has already frozen assets worth over £260 million
linked to prominent figures from the Hasina administration, including former Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury and influential members of the Rahman and Sobhan families.
“These individuals looted state resources,” said Dr Ahsan Mansur, Governor of Bangladesh Bank and head of the asset repatriation initiative.
“They are now concealing their wealth in London through shell companies and luxury properties. We urge the UK authorities to extend asset freezes immediately.”
The alleged use of the UK property market to launder illicit wealth has sparked political controversy both in Dhaka and London, where lawmakers are calling for tougher regulations to prevent Britain from becoming a refuge for corrupt capital.
The ‘Bashundhara Connection’
One of the most prominent aspects of the investigation involves the Sobhan family, owners of the multi-billion-dollar Bashundhara Group. According to The Guardian, several of their UK properties, including a £7.35 million townhouse in Knightsbridge, have been involved in suspicious transactions.
One such property was reportedly transferred without payment before being resold, potentially to obscure ownership amid impending legal scrutiny.
Sayem Sobhan Anvir, managing director of Bashundhara, is currently under investigation by Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for alleged money laundering. Other assets linked to the family, such as an £8 million mansion in Surrey, are also under review.
The Chowdhury Holdings
Saifuzzaman Chowdhury reportedly accumulated a portfolio exceeding 300 UK properties, many of which have been frozen by the NCA. His brother, Anisuzzaman, and an associated London-based developer are also subject to investigation.
Authorities suspect some properties were sold, refinanced, or transferred following the regime’s fall, possibly to circumvent asset seizure.
Among these was a £10 million townhouse near Regent’s Park sold last year by Anisuzzaman, who maintains the transaction was lawful and initiated prior to the political transition.
Salman F Rahman’s Family Under Scrutiny
The influential Rahman family has also been implicated, with properties owned by Salman F Rahman’s son and nephew frozen, including a £35 million Mayfair apartment. The family denies any wrongdoing, describing the accusations as politically motivated.
Political and International Response
Mohammad Abdul Momen, chair of the ACC, confirmed formal requests have been submitted to the NCA to extend asset freezes. “Securing these overseas assets is critical to returning stolen wealth to the people of Bangladesh,” he stated.
Joe Powell MP, chair of the UK’s cross-party group on corruption and tax justice, urged swift action by the NCA. “History shows stolen wealth can vanish quickly. Britain must not serve as a haven for corrupt elites and political fugitives,” Powell warned.
As the interim government, led by Professor Muhammad Yunus, advances an ambitious anti-corruption campaign, the ongoing battle over London real estate assets is emerging as a crucial test of justice and the international community’s resolve against kleptocracy.
