Press Release
Dhaka, 13 August 2024: Despite substantial evidence of undeclared assets belonging to former Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed and his wife, Rukhmila Zaman Chowdhury, the authorities have failed to take action for an extended period. Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) highlighted this case as a clear example of partisanship and ineffectiveness within key institutions, particularly at the leadership level, including the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and the National Board of Revenue (NBR). TIB emphasized that there is no alternative to strengthening and comprehensively reforming these institutions to effectively combat corruption and money laundering and to ensure accountability by identifying those involved in such crimes.
Since December of last year, no progress has been made despite the disclosure of specific information regarding the former Land Minister’s undisclosed assets abroad and widespread public concern. Terming this highly disappointing, TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said, ‘On December 26 last year, following the release of TIB’s report titled ‘Candidate Profiles in Affidavits,’ along with the ‘Know Your Candidate’ dashboard and subsequent media reports, the public and relevant authorities became aware of the former Land Minister’s investments and ongoing business activities in the UK, totalling over BDT 2,300 crore. On March 4 of this year, through a collaborative initiative between TI UK and TIB, all specific information, evidence, and documents uncovered in TI UK’s investigation were sent to the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the National Board of Revenue (NBR), and the Attorney General’s office. Although the institutions have ample proof, they failed to take any discernible action against the previous Land Minister. Visible movement on this topic has only occurred after the government's fall and the resignation of the BFIU head, which may be seen as a positive development. Nevertheless, the question remains: why was no action taken earlier, despite the significant evidence?’
The TIB ED further questioned, “Doesn’t such lack of action demonstrate that these institutions have become ineffective due to partisan influences, and haven’t their leadership played the role of catalysts of this ineffectiveness? In reality, by misusing their entrusted authority they have protected money laundering and the acquisition of undeclared assets. The deeply worrisome fact is that wholesale politicization of the state agencies that are supposed to prevent and control such wrongdoing has in reality opened the floodgates to corruption and provided impunity to the high level perpetrators. Needless to add, the former Land Minister's case of enormous overseas assets and investments accumulation that remained undisclosed is only the "tip of the iceberg”. The relevant institutions need to undergo a thorough overhaul in ‘new Bangladesh’ consistent with aspirations of the student movement. Without such institutional overhaul, the vision of a state that is free from corruption, well-governed, democratic, and accountable will remain a pipe dream.”
Media Contact:
Mohammad Tauhidul Islam
Director, Outreach and Communication
Phone: +8801713107868
Email: tauhidul@ti-bangladesh.org
