Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) started investigation into the allegation that 459 Bangladeshi nationals have bought properties in Dubai illegally.
ACC Public Relations Officer Muhammad Arif Sadek on Monday confirmed it.
He said, ACC formed a four-member probe committee comprising a director and three deputy directors to look into the allegation following a High Court order.
High Court ordered the authorities concerned to investigate the allegation after a preliminary hearing of a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Subir Nandi Das Earlier on 16 January.
The High Court then ordered the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFUJ) and the Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to submit a report within 30 days.
The HC bench consisting of Justice Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat Liju gave the order.
In May last year, a US-based non-profit organisation Center for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADC) published a research paper, highlighting that Bangladeshis bought housing assets with money that was laundered mainly in Gulf countries.
According to the report, 459 Bangladeshis owned a total of 972 residential properties in Dubai at a cost of $315 million. Of these assets, 64 are located in the elite Dubai Marina area, and 19 in Palm Jumeirah. At least 100 villas and five buildings are said to be owned by Bangladeshis in these locations.
Besides, 4-5 Bangladeshis own properties worth about $44 million there.
