News Flash
CHATTOGRAM, March 11, 2026 (BSS) – A Chattogram court today ordered the trial to begin by framing charges against 36 individuals, including former Awami League land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case over the embezzlement of Tk 25 crore from United Commercial Bank Limited (UCBL) and its smuggling abroad through hundi.
The charges were framed by Chattogram Divisional Special Judge Mizanur Rahman. Earlier, the investigation officer of the case, ACC Head Office Deputy Director Md Mashiur Rahman, submitted the charge sheet to the Chattogram Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s Court on January 5.
The accused include former minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed (56), his wife and former UCBL chairman Rukmila Zaman (46), and former directors Asifuzzaman Chowdhury (46) and Roksana Zaman Chowdhury (56).
ACC Public Prosecutor (PP) Mokarram Hossain told BSS that the court has fixed April 5 for the next hearing.
According to the charge sheet, Aramit Group protocol officer Farman Ullah Chowdhury obtained a Tk 25 crore loan from UCBL by falsely claiming himself to be the owner of a business entity named Vision Trading.
Later, Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed allegedly withdrew the funds through his employees, smuggled the money abroad through hundi and purchased property there. The embezzlement reportedly took place between October 13, 2019, and February 13, 2020.
On July 24, 2025, ACC Deputy Director Md Mashiur Rahman filed the case against Jabed, his wife and 31 others at the Chattogram District Office-1.
The investigating officer recommended dropping two deceased individuals — former UCBL credit in-charge Mohammad Abdul Awal and Jabed’s employee Kazi Mohammad Dildar Alam — from the proceedings.
The charge sheet includes a total of 36 accused, of whom seven were identified during the investigation while the remaining 29 were named earlier.
