Saturday, 11 October, 2025
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched a major operation to seize assets of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, in the United States, following court orders and detailed investigations into alleged money laundering, bribery, and corruption.
The assets targeted include two luxury houses, two luxury cars, and 12 bank accounts in the US. Joy’s vehicle collection reportedly comprises a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, Lexus GX 460, Land Rover Range Rover, McLaren 720S, Mercedes-Benz AMG GT, and two Jeep Grand Cherokees, one of which is registered under his former wife, Christina Wazed. On 9 September, a court authorised the seizure of these vehicles as part of the ongoing investigation.
ACC Director General Md Akter Hossain confirmed that the investigation is ongoing.
“The investigation officer can take the initiative to seize any assets of the accused if deemed necessary. In such cases, the application will be made with the permission of the court. These seized assets will be presented as evidence during the trial,” he said.
The ACC filed the case against Joy on 14 August, alleging that he amassed assets worth around Tk 600 million “beyond known sources of income.” He was also accused of “suspicious transactions, corruption, and bribery,” according to the ACC, which gathered information through its extensive probe.
Citing details from the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), the commission stated: “Joy has made illegal investments in the United States by transferring money abroad without the permission of Bangladesh Bank and concealed these transactions in his income tax returns submitted to the National Board of Revenue.”
The watchdog further alleged that Joy “laundered money” through Hundi and other illicit channels while abusing his position as Sheikh Hasina’s information and communication technology advisor. With those funds, he acquired ownership of the luxury properties and vehicles in the United States.
The ACC said Joy accumulated these “illegal assets” through “bribery and corruption” and “smuggled them” between 2000 and 30 June 2024.
To recover these assets, the ACC is sending a mutual legal assistance request (MLAR) to the United States. On 9 September, a court approved the application to seize Joy’s US-based properties, which forms part of a broader effort to repatriate wealth siphoned abroad during the Awami League’s 15-year rule, which ended with the August 2024 mass uprising.
Sheikh Hasina and her sister, Sheikh Rehana, fled the country following the uprising, while Joy has been living in the US.
ACC officials emphasised the urgency of freezing and annexing all movable and immovable assets belonging to Joy abroad. “It is imperative to take immediate action to secure these assets,” the commission stated.
The case underscores the ACC’s commitment to tackling corruption at the highest levels and recovering wealth illegally transferred abroad, marking a significant move in Bangladesh’s ongoing efforts to ensure accountability and financial transparency, ACC officials said.
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The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched a major operation to seize assets of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, in the United States, following court orders and detailed investigations into alleged money laundering, bribery, and corruption.
The assets targeted include two luxury houses, two luxury cars, and 12 bank accounts in the US. Joy’s vehicle collection reportedly comprises a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, Lexus GX 460, Land Rover Range Rover, McLaren 720S, Mercedes-Benz AMG GT, and two Jeep Grand Cherokees, one of which is registered under his former wife, Christina Wazed. On 9 September, a court authorised the seizure of these vehicles as part of the ongoing investigation.
ACC Director General Md Akter Hossain confirmed that the investigation is ongoing.
“The investigation officer can take the initiative to seize any assets of the accused if deemed necessary. In such cases, the application will be made with the permission of the court. These seized assets will be presented as evidence during the trial,” he said.
The ACC filed the case against Joy on 14 August, alleging that he amassed assets worth around Tk 600 million “beyond known sources of income.” He was also accused of “suspicious transactions, corruption, and bribery,” according to the ACC, which gathered information through its extensive probe.
Citing details from the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), the commission stated: “Joy has made illegal investments in the United States by transferring money abroad without the permission of Bangladesh Bank and concealed these transactions in his income tax returns submitted to the National Board of Revenue.”
The watchdog further alleged that Joy “laundered money” through Hundi and other illicit channels while abusing his position as Sheikh Hasina’s information and communication technology advisor. With those funds, he acquired ownership of the luxury properties and vehicles in the United States.
The ACC said Joy accumulated these “illegal assets” through “bribery and corruption” and “smuggled them” between 2000 and 30 June 2024.
To recover these assets, the ACC is sending a mutual legal assistance request (MLAR) to the United States. On 9 September, a court approved the application to seize Joy’s US-based properties, which forms part of a broader effort to repatriate wealth siphoned abroad during the Awami League’s 15-year rule, which ended with the August 2024 mass uprising.
Sheikh Hasina and her sister, Sheikh Rehana, fled the country following the uprising, while Joy has been living in the US.
ACC officials emphasised the urgency of freezing and annexing all movable and immovable assets belonging to Joy abroad. “It is imperative to take immediate action to secure these assets,” the commission stated.
The case underscores the ACC’s commitment to tackling corruption at the highest levels and recovering wealth illegally transferred abroad, marking a significant move in Bangladesh’s ongoing efforts to ensure accountability and financial transparency, ACC officials said.
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