The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has moved to secure an Interpol red notice against former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury and his wife Rukmila Zaman in connection with multiple graft cases. The application was placed before the Chattogram Senior Metropolitan Special Judge (acting) Abdur Rahman’s court on Thursday.

Public prosecutor Advocate Mokarram Hossain confirmed that the petition aims to bring both fugitives under international law enforcement radar. The court has set Sunday as the date for hearing the application, which could pave the way for an international manhunt if approved.

The ACC began investigating the couple during the tenure of the previous Awami League-led government, but the inquiry gained new momentum following the dramatic fall of Sheikh Hasina’s administration on August 5, 2024, amid student and mass protests. After the regime change, ACC Deputy Director Mashiur Rahman was formally tasked with leading the probe into the couple’s alleged corruption.

The legal troubles for Saifuzzaman and Rukmila intensified earlier this year. On April 17, 2025, they were formally charged in a Tk 20 crore loan fraud case. Subsequent court orders have exposed a staggering trail of alleged ill-gotten assets spread across several countries. Documents presented before the court revealed that the couple jointly own 343 properties in the United Kingdom, 228 in the United Arab Emirates, and nine in the United States, along with other undisclosed holdings abroad.

In Bangladesh, the scope of their wealth is equally striking. On March 5, 2025, the court ordered the freezing of 39 bank accounts under their names, holding deposits exceeding Tk 5.26 crore. The same directive extended to 102 crore worth of shares and nearly 957 bighas of land. These assets are now under judicial seizure as investigators pursue the money trail.

Earlier, on October 7, 2024, a separate order had already barred the couple from leaving the country, reflecting the seriousness of the allegations. Despite these restrictions, the two remain outside the authorities’ reach, prompting the ACC to now seek Interpol’s assistance.

If the red notice is issued, Interpol will circulate an international alert requesting law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest the accused until extradition or further legal proceedings. For Bangladesh, such a move underscores the determination of its anti-graft watchdog to pursue high-profile corruption suspects even beyond its borders.

The developments around Saifuzzaman Chowdhury carry significant political undertones as well. As a former minister and influential figure during the Awami League era, his prosecution reflects a broader campaign by the ACC and the judiciary to hold powerful individuals accountable for alleged misuse of authority and financial crimes. The targeting of his wife, Rukmila Zaman, also points to suspicions that the couple jointly orchestrated schemes to launder wealth abroad.

Observers note that the outcome of Sunday’s hearing will be closely watched, both domestically and internationally. A decision to approve the red notice could escalate diplomatic and legal processes involving countries where their assets are located, particularly the UK, UAE, and the US. For Bangladesh’s anti-corruption efforts, success in this case would mark a rare instance of pushing through accountability mechanisms across international boundaries.

As the ACC continues to press forward, the couple’s fortunes now rest on how the court responds to the red notice plea and how international agencies cooperate in the unfolding saga. What is clear is that the once-powerful former minister and his spouse are now facing some of the gravest legal challenges of their lives, with their financial empire under siege and their freedom increasingly at risk.