Properties In Dubai: Investigate allegations against 459 Bangladeshis
HC asks 4 govt agencies to submit reports in 30 days
The High Court yesterday directed the authorities concerned to conduct separate enquiries into the allegations against 459 Bangladeshis of purchasing properties in Dubai without disclosing information about those.
The Anti-Corruption Commission, Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFUJ), Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Police and National Board of Revenue (NBR) have been directed to conduct the enquiries and to submit progress reports to the HC in 30 days.
In response to a writ petition, the court also issued a rule asking the respondents to explain why their inaction to take appropriate steps against those who are responsible for purchasing houses, flats, cars and other properties by money laundering in Dubai, capital city of United Arab Emirates, should not be declared illegal.
In the rule, the HC also asked the respondents to explain why they should not be directed to take action against the Bangladeshi nationals who purchased properties using money laundered to Dubai.
The respondents to the rule include the Cabinet, finance and law secretaries; chairmen of the ACC and NBR; heads of BFIU and CID; and the Bangladesh Bank governor.
The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat Lizu passed the order following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Subir Nandi Das seeking necessary directives in this regard.
He submitted the petition to the HC on January 12, after a report was published in Bangla Daily Bonik Barta under the headline "Dubai E 459 Bangladeshir Hajar Property (Thousand of properties of 459 Bangladeshis in Dubai) on January 10.
According to the report, huge amounts of money were being transferred to Dubai, either openly or secretly, from different countries, while various sectors, including those of finance, land and real estate, are using this laundered money.
Examining the information collected by the US-based Centre for Advanced Defence Studies (C4ADS), EU Tax Advisory said 459 Bangladeshis have purchased properties in Dubai without disclosing information, the Bonik Barta report said.
ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan; Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik and lawyer Syed Sayedul Haque Suman placed arguments before the HC bench during hearing of the petition.