UK Crime Agency Freezes Assets of Disgraced Sheikh Hasina Ally

The UK’s National Crime Agency has frozen the assets of Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, the former Land Minister of Bangladesh and an ally of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Chowdhury faces money laundering investigations amid allegations of widespread government corruption. His significant property holdings in the UK, amounting to over 350 assets, are now under scrutiny following Al Jazeera’s investigation into his wealth accumulation while in office.

The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) has taken decisive action by freezing assets held by Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, the former Minister of Land in Bangladesh. This move follows a request from Bangladeshi authorities, who are currently investigating Chowdhury for money laundering. Chowdhury is known to be a political ally of the former Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, whose Awami League party is now prohibited.

According to reports from Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit (I-Unit), the agency confirmed the freezing of several properties, stating, “We can confirm that the NCA has secured freezing orders against a number of properties as part of an on-going civil investigation.” This asset freeze prevents Chowdhury from selling his properties, complicating his financial situation.

Chowdhury has gained considerable attention for owning over 350 properties in the UK alone, with his lavish London residence in St John’s Wood being among those affected by the freeze. This property, reportedly purchased for £11 million (around $14.8 million), was also a location for undercover filming by Al Jazeera’s investigative team, chronicling his wealth accumulation while in office.

During a meeting captured in the documentary “The Minister’s Millions,” Chowdhury elaborated on his extensive property portfolio with a taste for luxury items, mentioning, “I am like her son, actually,” in reference to his relationship with Sheikh Hasina. He also boasted of close ties to the deposed leader, underlining his influence within Bangladesh’s political landscape.

Despite a reported annual limit of just $12,000 on foreign currency exchanges, Chowdhury allegedly amassed properties totaling over $500 million across cities like London, Dubai, and New York, without declaring these assets in his home country’s tax documents. This alleged lack of financial transparency has drawn scrutiny amid broader investigations into corruption following Hasina’s fall from power.

The investigation taking place after the political upheaval in Bangladesh has led to heightened scrutiny of Chowdhury, particularly after he was tracked to his upscale neighborhood in London. In previous statements, Chowdhury maintained that the funds for his international ventures were legitimate earnings from businesses outside Bangladesh, claiming that he is a target of political retaliation.

This latest development coincides with recent events, including the visit of Bangladesh’s interim Prime Minister, Professor Muhammad Yunus, to London, suggesting a complex interplay between UK authorities and Bangladeshi political dynamics.

The UK National Crime Agency’s asset freeze against Saifuzzaman Chowdhury marks a significant step in combating alleged corruption linked to former Bangladeshi officials. With Chowdhury’s ties to the deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the ongoing investigations into widespread corruption in her administration, this situation continues to unfold. Chowdhury’s defense of his financial dealings as legitimate raises further questions about political motives in this high-stakes investigation.

Original Source: www.aljazeera.com