Summary:
- The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) raided the residence of former Bangladesh Bank deputy governor SK Sur Chowdhury, recovering Tk 17.25 lakh in cash.
- SK Sur Chowdhury was arrested on January 14, 2025, for failing to respond to an ACC notice regarding his assets.
- He is accused of facilitating financial misconduct during his tenure, including aiding PK Halder in embezzlement schemes.
- Investigations have uncovered additional financial irregularities, including savings certificates worth Tk 4 crore linked to his wealth.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh has conducted a significant raid at the residence of Sitanshu Kumar (SK) Sur Chowdhury, a former deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank, recovering Tk 17.25 lakh in cash as part of an ongoing corruption investigation. The operation took place on Sunday, January 19, 2025, at his home in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi area and was led by ACC Director Md. Saimuzzaman.
This raid follows a series of legal actions against SK Sur Chowdhury, who was arrested on January 14, 2025, for failing to respond to an ACC notice requiring him to declare his assets. The ACC had filed a case against him on December 23, 2024, under the Corruption Prevention Act of 2004. Chowdhury is currently in jail as investigations into his alleged financial irregularities continue.
The allegations against SK Sur Chowdhury stem from his tenure as deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank from January 2012 to January 2018. During this period, he was accused of facilitating financial misconduct, including aiding Prashant Kumar (PK) Halder in embezzling vast sums of money through fraudulent loans. Halder’s financial scandals have been among the most high-profile corruption cases in Bangladesh’s banking sector.
In addition to the cash recovered during the raid, investigators have reportedly uncovered savings certificates worth Tk 4 crore and other financial documents linked to Chowdhury’s alleged illicit wealth accumulation. The ACC has also sought details of bank accounts belonging to Chowdhury, his spouse, and dependents as part of its broader investigation into his assets.
The ACC began probing SK Sur Chowdhury in 2022 after his name surfaced in connection with PK Halder’s financial scams. These scams involved massive embezzlement and money laundering operations that severely impacted Bangladesh’s financial institutions. Allegations also suggest that during his tenure at the central bank, Chowdhury played a role in enabling irregularities in loan approvals and bank takeovers by influential groups.
The case against SK Sur Chowdhury highlights broader concerns about corruption within Bangladesh’s banking sector during the tenure of the Awami League government. Several high-ranking officials from Bangladesh Bank have faced accusations of complicity in financial irregularities over the past decade. Experts have emphasized the need for comprehensive accountability to restore public trust in the country’s financial systems.
As investigations continue, the ACC has reiterated its commitment to holding all individuals involved in corruption accountable. This high-profile case underscores the ongoing challenges facing Bangladesh’s anti-corruption efforts and the critical importance of transparency and accountability in public institutions.
