Lands Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury of ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina has built a mountain of wealth in other countries including the United Kingdom. Aljazeera, a Qatar-based media outlet, has investigated how this former minister of Awami League has built an empire abroad with a small government salary.
According to the investigative report published by Al Jazeera on Wednesday, Saifuzzaman Chowdhury bought 360 luxury houses in the UK at a cost of 250 million dollars. The price of which is equal to about 3 thousand crores in Bangladeshi currency.
Apart from Britain, he has expanded his real estate business to the Middle East countries of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, New York, Singapore and Malaysia. In all he bought more than five hundred houses. Which are worth about 700 million dollars. In Bangladeshi currency which is more than 8 thousand 367 crore rupees.
Apart from Britain, he has expanded his real estate business to the Middle East countries of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, New York, Singapore and Malaysia. In all he bought more than five hundred houses. Which are worth about 700 million dollars. In Bangladeshi currency which is more than 8 thousand 367 crore rupees.
The Qatar-based media said that last year, their journalist visited Saifuzzaman’s $14 million home under the guise of an investor. Saifuzzaman bragged to ‘undercover’ reporters at the time that he spent thousands of dollars on handmade crocodile leather shoes and Italian suits from London’s most expensive shops.
Besides, at that time he also showed around his own house in London. which includes a cinema hall, gym, private elevator and a secure underground parking area to house the new Rolls-Royals cars.
Saifuzzaman claimed to Al Jazeera that he bought these assets through his legitimate businesses in the UK, US and UAE. However, the interim government has now launched an investigation against him accusing him of money laundering. His bank account has already been seized and UCBL, owned by his family, has taken control of the bank. Besides, when Sheikh Hasina fled to India in the face of the revolution of the students, Saifuzzaman also left the country.