Govt sends MLARs to UAE, US, UK

The interim government has sent three mutual legal assistance requests (MLARs) to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK), seeking attachments of the assets of Bangladesh's former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, which he accumulated through stolen money, reports BSS.

"We have asked the authorities concerned abroad to attach 228 assets (of Saifuzzaman Chowdhury) in the UAE, seven assets in the US and 343 assets in the UK...MLARs were sent through the Foreign Ministry," Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told a recent press briefing.

According to the documents, investigations in several cases filed against Saifuzzaman Chowdhury and individuals and firms related to his interest are underway now, while the National Board of Revenue (NBR) is investigating 11 cases on charge of dodging tax.

Four assets worth Taka 200 million have already been attached through court and applications were placed before court, seeking attachments of two flats and about 31,594 decimal of land.

Court has frozen share of Taka 1.02 billion of Chowdhury and Taka 52.7 million deposited in his 39 bank accounts.

Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) sent intelligence reports to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and froze Taka 150 million deposited in 125 bank accounts.