MP Shimul, wife bought property in Canada

Md Rezaul Chowdhury, a social welfare activist in Natore, submitted an application to the High Court yesterday, saying that Awami League lawmaker Shafiul Islam Shimul and his wife Shamima Sultana Jannati have purchased property, including a luxurious residence, in Canada.

The property has been purchased at Scarborough in Toronto through illegal means, he claimed.

But their names have not been included in the list of dual citizens -- submitted to the HC, he said in the application.

Rezaul, president of Sunrise Samaj Kalyan Sangstha, a social welfare organisation in Natore, prayed to the HC to allow him to become a party to the suo muto (voluntary) rule issued by the court on November 22 last year.

The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice SM Mozibur Rahman asked Rezaul to submit the documents in support of the allegations through swearing affidavit.

The HC bench also asked Rezaul to supply the documents to the Anti-Corruption Commission and the state council.

The bench adjourned hearing on the suo muto rule till submission of the documents.

Lawyers Abdur Razzak and Md Belal Hossain appeared for Rezaul while lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan and Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik represented the ACC and state respectively during the hearing.

On March 31, police's immigration department sent a report, containing names and addresses of 13,931 Bangladeshi nationals with dual citizenships and dual passports, to the attorney general's office for placing it to the HC.

In the report, the officials have mentioned the present addresses of 13,931 Bangladeshi nationals at home and foreign countries concerned.

The report was later placed before the HC bench.

On December 21 last year, the HC sought a list of names and addresses of Bangladeshi nationals with dual citizenships and passports, who have purchased or built houses abroad by laundering money.