Former Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury has admitted that he has assets in his name in the United Kingdom (UK), but none of those were built using money siphoned from Bangladesh. He further claimed those overseas assets were legally acquired.
Saifuzzaman – the Member of Parliament in Chattogram-13 (Anowara-Karnaphuli) constituency – made the disclosure at a press conference in the city’s National Press Club on Saturday.
Providing further details, he said, “My father has had business in London since 1967. He studied in the UK and got involved in business in 1991. He then expanded his business in London. If needed, a high-level inquiry committee should be formed.
“I will resign from my position as a lawmaker if the allegation of corruption against me is proven.”
Before the national elections in December last year, Saifuzzaman was accused of concealing wealth and having a significant number of assets in the UK in an affidavit. Various local and foreign news media also published reports on this matter.
On February 18, a report published in Bloomberg News claimed that former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury has built up a UK real estate empire of more than 350 properties worth about £200 million.
Regarding the concealment of assets abroad in the election affidavit, this Awami League lawmaker said, “The affidavit is completely based on the income tax return of Bangladesh. It does not have a separate table for information on foreign assets.
“Why go to give additional information? I have separate income tax documents abroad. And the assets abroad have bank loans against them.”
Regarding the huge expansion of business in London during his stay as a minister, Saifuzzaman Chowdhury said, “The Covid-19 epidemic turned into an opportunity for me. At that time, house prices in London fell, and bank loan interest was reduced.
“So I took risks and made profits.”
Saifuzzaman Chowdhury claimed that there was no corruption in his ministry while he was a minister.
