The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has approved a chargesheet against former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, his wife, and 33 others for allegedly embezzling Tk 230 million from United Commercial Bank’s (UCB) Karwan Bazar branch in Dhaka. The case involves accusations of taking loans under the name of a paper-based company falsely registered under an employee’s ownership. The information was confirmed by ACC Assistant Director Md. Tanzir Ahmed on Monday.

According to the ACC, the charges include violations under multiple sections of the Penal Code of 1860, the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1947, and the Money Laundering Prevention Act of 2012. Among the accused are Rukmila Zaman, wife of Saifuzzaman Chowdhury and former chairperson of UCB PLC, as well as former and current senior officials of the bank, several executives of Aramit PLC, and individuals linked to hundi operations.

Investigators allege that the accused abused power and influence to withdraw funds through fraud and forgery, later transferring and laundering the money abroad. The ACC has recommended exemption for one accused, Sharif Zahid, from the charges.