HC orders ACC to probe AL MP Golap’s properties in US

The High Court on Monday ordered the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to investigate the allegation of purchasing multiple houses by Awami League MP Abdus Sobhan Mia (Golap) in New York.

The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat passed the order after hearing a writ petition in this regard.

The court asked the ACC to submit the probe report within four months.

The court also issued a rule asking why the inaction of the respondents to investigate the allegation against Golap over purchasing multiple houses in New York and acquiring huge illegal property abroad through abusing power should not be declared illegal.

Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Suman stood for the writ petition.

Barrister Syed Sayedul filed the writ petition with the HC bench concerned on Sunday seeking an investigation into the alleged purchase of nine houses by MP Golap in New York at a cost of 40 lakh dollars.

Chief Election Commissioner, Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and secretary to the Home Ministry were made respondents in the writ petition.

A report in this regard was published in a daily newspaper which was attached to the writ.

Recently, Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), a global network of investigative journalism, published a report on its website where it claimed that AL MP Golap purchased a number of houses in New York at a cost of 40 lakh dollars.

According to the report, Golap started to buy homes in New York in 2014 and in five years, he managed to purchase nine houses. The estimated cost of the houses is approximately Tk 42 crore.

Golap was elected AL MP from Madaripur-3 constituency in 2018 and he was made the publicity secretary of the Central Awami League in December last.

He also served as the office secretary of the party.