Dhaka, Feb. 26 -- A Dhaka court has ordered authorities to take steps to seize 518 flats in the United Kingdom owned by former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed, as part of a widening investigation into alleged money laundering.

Court documents put the value of the properties at £271.85 million.

Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Faiz issued the order on Thursday following a petition by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Court bench assistant Riaz Hossain said the application was filed by ACC Deputy Director Md Moshiur Rahman, seeking the seizure of the overseas properties.

According to the petition, a nine-member taskforce comprising officials from the ACC, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), a...