FBI sends Javed’s US asset records
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has sent Bangladesh records of bank accounts, businesses and properties allegedly belonging to former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed and his wife, Rukmila Jaman, following a Mutual Legal Assistance Request (MLAR) from Bangladesh.
The investigation report and related documents, obtained through the US authorities, have now reached the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), which
will examine the records to trace the ownership, source of funds, transactions and money trail linked to the assets.
ACC Deputy Director (Public Relations) Md Aktarul Islam confirmed the development to the media on Monday.
The information was also detailed in a letter issued by the ACC’s Money Laundering-2 branch.
He said Bangladesh had sent the MLAR seeking US assistance in obtaining records of the couple’s bank accounts, businesses and properties, as well as in seizing and confiscating alleged proceeds of crime.
The US Central Authority Office of International Affairs (OIA) accepted the request on 19 May last year. Subsequently, the FBI, through the relevant US authorities, sent Bangladesh an investigation report along with records relating to properties identified in the report.
The documents have since been received by the ACC.
The commission, however, has yet to disclose how many properties or accounts have been identified in the FBI report, the extent of the assets covered or their current market value.
It has also not confirmed whether any assets in the US have already been seized or confiscated.
Asked about the value of the couple’s US assets, Aktarul Islam said: “If more information is received later, journalists will be informed.”
Court ordered attachment
Earlier, on 13 January, a Dhaka court ordered the attachment of assets worth a total of Tk 1,824 crore 9 lakh 99 thousand 905 belonging to Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed and persons linked to him in seven countries.
The court order put the purchase value of properties in the United States at Tk 436 crore 88 lakh 65 thousand 242.
The ACC, however, cautioned against treating that figure as the current value of the assets identified in the FBI report.
The purchase value cited in the court order and the present value of assets identified or documented through the latest US investigation are not necessarily the same.
Therefore, it cannot at this stage be established that the couple’s current US assets are worth Tk 436 crore.
The ACC said it would scrutinise and verify the documents received from the FBI before taking further action.
The examination will focus on the ownership, source of funds, financial transactions and money trail associated with the assets, officials said.
The latest development marks a significant step in Bangladesh’s efforts to obtain overseas financial and property records in connection with its investigation into alleged corruption and money laundering involving the former minister and his wife.
