‘Salam Murshedy occupying Gulshan house illegally’

Ruling Awami League lawmaker and former national footballer Abdus Salam Murshedy has been illegally occupying a house in the capital's Gulshan for long, finds a probe committee of the housing and public works ministry.

The committee in a report submitted to the ministry on November 20 said the illegally occupied house, situated in CEN (D) Block on Road No-104 in Gulshan-2, can be taken back to the government's possession immediately.

It added that legal actions can be taken against those involved in the forgery.

The Daily Star called Murshedy, a lawmaker from Khulna, over the phone for comments, but he did not receive the phone calls.

Meanwhile, a High Court bench is scheduled today to hear a rule issued earlier over the matter.

The bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat Lizu issued the rule and order after Supreme Court lawyer Syed Sayedul Haque Suman filed a writ petition on October 30.

On November 1, the HC issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain why their inaction to take steps against Murshedy for illegally occupying the house of the Public Works Department in Gulshan should not be declared illegal.

They were also directed to produce documents regarding the house before the court.

Secretary to the housing and public works ministry, chairman of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) and Murshedy were asked to submit the documents.

Lawyer Suman submitted the petition as a public interest litigation.

He also requested the HC to direct the Anti-Corruption Commission to dispose of the application he placed on August 11 for conducting an inquiry into this issue and take necessary steps against those involved in handover of the property of the Public Works Department to Murshedy.

Citing the petition, he earlier told The Daily Star that he collected documents from different sources, including social media, and found that Rajuk has given the ownership of the luxury house to Murshedy, lawmaker from Khulna-4 and senior vice-president of Bangladesh Football Federation, by forging documents.

Yesterday, lawyer Suman said the authorities concerned submitted some documents to the court through an affidavit, and a hearing will be held today.

He said Murshedy has been occupying the house illegally for over two decades.

THE PROBE

The housing and public works ministry on September 8 formed a three-member committee, led by its Joint Secretary Mahmudur Rahman Habib, to investigate the incident after a letter was sent by ACC on August 22.

Sources said the graft watchdog sent the letter to the ministry after receiving a complaint from Suman in this regard.

The committee members visited the house and checked different documents before submitting the report.

In the report, it said the process of handing over the house to Murshedy was not done following the rules.

The Daily Star tried to contact Kazi Wasi Uddin, secretary of the housing and public works ministry, for comments, but failed.