The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Tuesday filed four cases against former Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, his wife Rukmila Zaman, former UCBL chairman, and 17 others over the embezzlement of Tk 31.69 crore through bank loans taken in the name of nonexistent companies.

The cases were filed at the ACC’s Chattogram office.

Among them, one case involving Tk 8 crore embezzlement was filed by Deputy Director Moshiur Rahman, another involving Tk 9.99 crore by Assistant Director Md. Mainuddin Ahmed, another involving 5.20 crore was lodged by Deputy Assistant Director Md. Sajib Ahmed, and another involving Tk 8.50 crore by Deputy Assistant Director Md. Rubel Hossain.

According to the complaints, the accused in collusion defrauded innocent villagers and part-time workers by collecting their personal information—including NID numbers and photographs—through employees of B&B Electronics Mostafizur Rahman and syndicate member Md. Abul Kalam.

Using the falsified data, loans were approved in the names of non-existent companies.

A total of Tk 31.69 crore was transferred, diverted, and laundered through these fraudulent accounts.

The accused include former UCBL and UCB PLC executive committee members and former directors Bashir Ahmed, Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, AVP and Manager Operations Md. Abdul Awal, Executive Officer Md. Abu Bakar Khan, Senior Executive Officer Jamal Uddin, AVP Ziaul Karim Khan, and branch VP and head Md. Zahid Haider.

Besides, business owners Muhammad Mishbahul Alam of Model Trading, Muhammad Jahangir Alam of Classic Trading, Pradip Kumar Biswas of Alok International, B&B Electronics employee Md. Mostafizur Rahman, and Didarul Alam have also been named in the cases.

Several former UCBL and UCB PLC directors, including former vice-chairman Bajlul Ahmed Babul, M.A. Sabur, Yunus Ahmed, Nurul Islam Chowdhury, and Asifuzzaman Chowdhury were also included in the list of accused.