Tk 2312 cr business of land minister abroad

Staff Correspondent: There is a business of Tk 2,312 crore abroad. But a minister did not mention it in the election affidavit. Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) published such information on Tuesday. However, the organization did not disclose the name of the minister. It was said on behalf of TIB – if any government authority wants to know that information then it will be published. The name of the minister was known based on the information provided by this anti-corruption organization. He is Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury.
According to published information, six companies owned by the minister and his wife are still actively conducting housing construction (real estate) business abroad. Their value is 16.64 crore pounds or Tk 2,312 crore. The minister did not disclose the assets held abroad in his affidavit.

TIB’s press conference on Tuesday said the minister first opened a company in 2010, which has a current asset value of £1.73 billion. Then he opened another company in 2016, whose current assets are worth £7.31 billion.
Opened a third company in 2019, whose current asset value is £1.79 billion. He launched a fourth company in 2020, with assets valued at £2.15 billion, and a fifth and sixth in 2021, which currently have assets worth £3.22 billion.
TIB’s executive director Dr. Iftekharuzzamansaid that since the information is confidential and he (the minister) himself did not disclose it. That is why it is beyond the jurisdiction of TIB to reveal his name.
It is to be noted that Saifuzzaman Chowdhury became MP in his father’s seat in the by-election due to the sudden death of former president of Chittagong South District Awami League and former presidium member of Awami League Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury. Later, he became an MP from Anwara constituency in the 10th and 11th parliaments. He has been serving as Land Minister for the past 5 years. He served as the state minister of the same ministry for the previous 5 years.