Jumbangla Desk: Abdus Sobhan Golap. Former MP of Madaripur-3 Constituency. His father Taib Ali Bepari was a poor farmer. Abdus Sobhan Golap immigrated to America in the eighties to turn the wheel of fortune. There he used to sell pizza and work as a car driver. At one stage, he met Sheikh Hasina's son Sajib Wazed Joy. After that there was no looking back. Details from Bangladesh daily report-
When the Awami League won the election in 2008 and formed the government under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, Golap was made the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's personal secretary. Then in 2014 he was made special assistant. In 2016, he was made the office secretary of Awami League. In 2018, he was elected as an MP in the 11th parliamentary election by 'night vote'. After that he started various misdeeds and irregularities.
It was found that in the five years from 2018 to 2023, his and his wife's wealth increased more than four times. A part of Madaripur Sadar Upazila, Madaripur-3 Constituency with Kalkini and Dasar Upazilas. From here, in 2018, he was elected as a member of parliament for the first time with the boat symbol of Awami League. He has submitted the details of his wife and his immovable assets in the election affidavit.
Analysis of the affidavit shows that in 2018, Abdus Sobhan Golap had Tk 33 lakh 62 thousand 417 in his own name in bank or financial institution and Tk 51 lakh 9 thousand 690 in his wife's name. In 2023, his deposit amount was 1 crore 45 lakh 3 thousand 931 taka and his wife has 28 lakh 18 thousand 538 taka. According to the 2018 affidavit, his wife had 98 thousand 118 US dollars, but in 2023 he claimed in the affidavit that he did not have any foreign currency. But according to Abdus Sobhan Golap's 2018 affidavit, he did not have any car before. According to the 2023 affidavit, he owns a Toyota Harrier Jeep. The market value of which is mentioned as 90 lakh 64 thousand 247 taka.
However, this former member of parliament has made shocking incidents in corruption. He bought 9 houses not only in the country but also in the United States by earning money through massive irregularities and corruption. A few years ago, he bought these houses in New York City for about 50 crore rupees. Their current market value is around 100 crore rupees. There are several flats, land and businesses in various places including the capital. He has earned hundreds of crores of rupees through illegal means by embezzling government allocations, municipal and UP elections, tender trading, land grabbing, employment in government institutions. He has deposited crores of rupees in various banks in the country and abroad.
A report on the website of the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, or OCCRP, a global network of investigative journalists, mentions Rose's nine homes in the United States.
According to reports, Abdus Sobhan Golap first started buying apartments in New York in 2014. That year he bought an apartment in a building in the Jackson Heights area of New York. In the next five years he owned a total of 9 properties (flats or houses) in New York. The value of these properties is more than 4 million dollars. Abdus Sobhan Golap was elected Member of Parliament from Madaripur-3 on the nomination of Awami League in 2018.
According to the OCCRP report, Abdus Sobhan bought five condominiums in Jackson Heights, New York from 2014 to 2018. At that time the value of the property was about 24 million dollars. In addition, he bought three apartments worth 680 thousand dollars in the surrounding buildings. These are owned by his wife Gulshan Arao. According to reports, he renounced his US citizenship on August 15, 2019. Seven months ago, he was elected as a member of parliament in Bangladesh.
Fake freedom fighter: It is known that even though he is not a freedom fighter, he misused his power and included his name in the list of freedom fighters by becoming an MP. He claimed himself as a freedom fighter. Harun Sharif, the former deputy commander of the district freedom fighters said, Abdus Sobhan Mia Golap is not a freedom fighter. He is a fake freedom fighter. We do not know him as a freedom fighter. After Hasina came to power, I heard Golap Muktijoddha.
Land possession: Golab's father Taiyab Ali Bepari did not have much land. But after Golap became an MP, he started to occupy. He also occupied the land of his clan. If anyone protested, he would be kicked out of the house. Five plaintiffs filed a case in Madaripur court to get the land back. However, despite the case, the victims did not get redressal. However, after the fall of the Awami League government, ABM Salahuddin, Julhas Bepari, Shaheen Sultana, Masum Bepari, Manjuara Begum, Mujibur Rahman, Shahnaz Begum, Moshiur Rahman, Md. 10 persons including Kamruzzaman filed a complaint with ACC. ABM Salahuddin said, our ancestral property has been taken over by roses. We filed a case earlier, got no redress.
Freedom fighter's land also occupied: Brave freedom fighter ABM Nurul Alam is a retired major of the army. Rose has also occupied his ancestral land. Brave freedom fighter ABM Nurul Alam said, "They have occupied my own land. I was forced to file a case in court, but have not yet received any remedy. I want the rose to be judged.
Nomination trading: Golap has earned crores of rupees by trading nominations in local government elections. Golap used to extort crores of rupees from multiple candidates from each union for providing party symbols in union council elections. However, he used to give nominations to one person and did not return the money to the rest. Siraj Mal of Shikarmangal Union Parishad said, Golap took a lot of money from me in the name of nomination. I was not nominated. He did not return the money.
Post trade: After becoming the secretary of Golap Daptar, he used to steal crores of rupees from various people in the name of giving party posts. Apart from this , Golap was the craftsman of various Bhuifond organizations associated with the name of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman . A resident of Sahebrampur area of Kalkini upazila named Murad Sardar said that he has stolen a lot of money in the name of foot trade. He also took money from me.
Irregularities in allotment of TR Kabikha: Golap used to do various irregularities in allotment of TR Kabikha. TR's goods were also picked up in the name of his wife Gulshan Ara. Golap embezzled crores of money from TR and Kabikha.
Grabbing government land: Many government lands have been grabbed in Kalikini. Built a multi-storied building.
Two brothers made UP chairman without vote: Golap made his two brothers named Yunus Bepari and Milton chairman without vote for two terms. Rose forced other candidates to withdraw from the election by threatening them. Ali Noor Talukder was the chairman candidate of Ramzanpur Union Parishad in the previous Union Parishad elections. When he filed his nomination papers at the election office, they forced him to withdraw his candidature.
Ali Noor Talukder said, I was the chairman candidate but I was forced to withdraw. Golap made his brother the chairman by force. As Abdus Sobhan Golap is currently in jail in a murder case, no statement has been received regarding various irregularities and corruption.
