Court Correspondent

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Sunday ordered the authorities concerned to main status quo for eight weeks on the possession of a property allegedly occupied by Awami League MP and Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Vice-President Abdus Salam Murshedy in Dhaka’s Gulshan area.

Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam passed the order after hearing a petition filed by Murshedy.

On 19 March, the High Court ordered Murshedy to hand over his residence in Gulshan to the Ministry of Housing and Public Works.

The High Court bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Kazi Ebadoth Hossain also asked Murshedy to complete the process within three months after receiving the copy of the verdict.

The court also said that the residence in Gulshan where Salam Murshedy is living is an abandoned property of the government.

Senior Advocate Ahsanul Karim and Mohammad Syed Ahmed stood for Murshedy while Advocate Anik R Haque stood for the petitioner.

On 30 October 2022, Barrister Sayedul Haque Sumon filed a writ petition with the High Court seeking an inquiry into the allegations of corruption against the BFF official.

According to the writ petition, the house located in Gulshan-2 was listed as the abandoned house under the gazette in 1986. But Murshedy is living there after occupying it.

Three letters of the Housing and Public Works Ministry to the chairman of Rajuk issued on April 13, 2015, January 20, 2016 and July 4, 2022 were attached to the writ petition.

The Housing and Public Works Ministry sought explanation from Rajuk Chairman over the occupation of the house by Murshedy.

On 1 November 2022, the HC issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the inaction of the authorities concerned in taking legal steps against the AL lawmaker for occupying the house illegally, should not be declared beyond legal authority.

It also asked the authorities concerned to submit all documents regarding the house to the court.

On 8 February this year, the ACC in its investigation found the allegations of forgery and fraud over the house true and on the basis of information of witnesses and documents, the ACC filed a case against five people including Murshedy.