Testimony begins in ACC case against former land minister Jabed

Testimony has begun in a corruption case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) against former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed and 36 others over alleged embezzlement and laundering of Tk 250 million from United Commercial Bank Limited (UCB).

The testimony of the complainant was recorded on Sunday in the court of Mizanur Rahman, Chittagong Divisional Special Judge.

ACC lawyer Mukarram Hossain said the complainant, ACC Deputy Director Md. Mashiur Rahman, testified before the court. Nine accused who are currently in custody were present during the hearing. The court set April 21 for the next hearing.

Charges in the case were framed on March 11, with April 5 fixed for the start of testimony.

Earlier, on January 7, the court of Md. Hasanul Islam accepted the charge sheet submitted by the ACC. The investigating officer filed the charge sheet on January 5.

The accused include Jabed’s wife Rukmila Zaman, his brother Asifuzzaman, sister Roksana Zaman, and officials of UCBL and Aramit Group.

The case was initially filed on July 24 last year against 31 individuals. Two accused—bank officer Abdul Awal and company official Kazi Md. Dildar—have since died, and investigators recommended their exclusion from proceedings. Later, seven more individuals were added, bringing the total number of accused to 36.

According to the charge sheet, 92 witnesses have been listed, including bank officials and members of Aramit Group.

Investigators allege that Aramit Group official Farman Ullah Chowdhury obtained a trade license for a company named “Vision Trading” using false information. A current account was opened at a UCBL branch in Chattogram on October 13, 2019.

The company later applied for a 180-day loan on February 13, 2020, claiming it would import agricultural goods. Despite concerns raised during the review process, the bank’s board approved the loan without proper verification.

The funds were reportedly transferred to four companies—Alpha Traders, Classic Traders, Model Trading, and Imperial Trading—and later withdrawn in cash.

According to investigators, the money was smuggled abroad through hundi channels and used to purchase property, while some funds were deposited into accounts of Aramit Cement and Aramit Thai Aluminum Limited.

The alleged offences took place between October 2019 and February 2020.

The accused face charges under multiple sections of the Penal Code, the Prevention of Corruption Act, and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.