The court has ordered the seizure of properties, vehicles, and six bank accounts, including fixed deposits, belonging to former State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury. The decision follows an application by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
On Tuesday, 6 January, Senior Special Judge of the Dhaka Metropolitan Court, Sabbir Faiz, issued the order during a hearing of the ACC’s petition. Court assistant Riaz Hossain confirmed the development.
The properties seized include a five-katha plot in Uttara and a total of 23.21 acres in Dinajpur. Of the Dinajpur holdings, 18.0606 acres have been valued at BDT 24,447,388, while the remaining 5.1494 acres, obtained via a power of attorney, has not been assigned a market value. The five-katha plot in Uttara is valued at BDT 5.6 million.
In addition to the land, six bank accounts holding BDT 31,490,263, a fixed deposit worth BDT 300,000, a savings certificate valued at BDT 278,500, and a vehicle worth BDT 7,050,000 have also been frozen.
The ACC’s case investigator, Khorshed Alam, submitted the application, stating that Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury possesses both movable and immovable assets acquired through unexplained sources. The petition emphasised that there is a risk the accused might transfer, conceal, or move these assets abroad. For the purpose of investigation, the ACC requested the court to seize and freeze all assets registered under his name.
The case was initially filed on 8 April last year by ACC Assistant Director Minhaj Bin Islam. The allegations state that Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury accumulated assets worth BDT 57,382,687 that are inconsistent with his known sources of income. Moreover, he allegedly conducted suspicious transactions totalling BDT 136,823,510 through 11 bank accounts and five credit cards held in his name.
He faces charges under Section 27(1) of the ACC Act 2004, Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1947, and Sections 4(2) and 4(3) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2012. Previously, on 26 June last year, the same court had imposed a travel ban on Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury.
Summary of Seized Assets:
| Asset Type | Location / Details | Quantity / Size | Estimated Value (BDT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Land | Uttara | 5 katha plot | 5,600,000 |
| Land | Dinajpur | 18.0606 acres | 24,447,388 |
| Land | Dinajpur (PoA) | 5.1494 acres | Not specified |
| Bank Accounts | Various Banks | 6 accounts | 31,490,263 |
| Fixed Deposit | – | 1 | 300,000 |
| Savings Certificate | – | 1 | 278,500 |
| Vehicle | – | 1 | 7,050,000 |
This court order marks a significant step in the ongoing ACC investigation into alleged corruption and unexplained wealth accumulation by a former minister.