Abdus Sobhan Golap

Abdus Sobhan Golap
আবদুস সোবহান গোলাপ
Member of the Bangladesh Parliament for Madaripur-3
In office 30 January 2019 – 30 January 2024
Preceded by	AFM Bahauddin Nasim
Succeeded by	Mst. Tahmina Begum
Personal details
Born	(1956-10-11) 11 October 1956 (age 68) Madaripur, East Pakistan, Pakistan
Political party	Bangladesh Awami League
Parents	Taiyab Ali Mia (father) Anaran Nesa (mother)
Education	M.S.S, M.Sc, M.S, Ph.D[1]
Alma mater	University of Dhaka Norwegian University of Science and Technology American World University

Abdus Sobhan Golap (born 11 October 1956) is a politician and a former Jatiya Sangsad member representing the Madaripur-3 constituency. He is the current Publicity and Publications Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League.[2]

Early life

Golap was born on 11 October 1956 at North Ramjanpur village in Kalkini Upazila, Madaripur District of Bangladesh to Taiyab Ali Mia and Anaran Nesa.[3] He completed his secondary education from Torky Bandor Victory High School and higher secondary from Dhaka College. He obtained his undergraduate degree in Social science from Dhaka University.

In 1983, Golap was admitted to Norwegian University of Science and Technology at Trondheim and obtained his masters' from there. Later, he got his PhD from American World University on the topic of "Digital Bangladesh and Social Changes". The American World University is an uncredited university.[4][5]

Career

Golap got involved with Bangladesh Chhatra League politics when he was a student of the University of Dhaka.[6]

Golap accompanied Sheikh Hasina when she went to the United States on 15 March 2007.[7]

When Awami League formed the government after winning the 9th Bangladeshi parliamentary election in 2008, Golap was appointed personal secretary to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.[6] In 2014, he was made special assistant to the prime minister.[8] He has been the Awami League's office secretary since 2016.

Golap was elected a member of the parliament from Madaripur-3 constituency in the 11th Bangladeshi parliamentary election held on 30 December 2018.[9][10][11]

Golap was arrested from the Nakhalpara area of Dhaka on 25 August 2024 in a case filed over the killing of apparel worker Rubel at the 2024 Bangladesh quota reform movement.[12]

Corruption

The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project in a report has provided credible evidence of corruption against Abdus Sobhan. He acquired at least nine properties in the United States but did not mention about them in his electoral records before the 2018 Bangladesh election.[13] His tax files and other relevant income records also do not have any mention of his properties in New York which indicates foul play in attaining these properties. According to an estimate, the value of these properties are around 4 million USD. He acquired these properties while he was serving as an assistant to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.[14]

References

1. "Constituency 220 Madaripur-3". www.parliament.gov.bd. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
2. "Bangladesh Awami League". Bangladesh Awami League. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
3. "Bangladesh Election Commission" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 January 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
4. "Here's a list of fake and HEC recognised universities in Pakistan". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
5. "University leaders demand action on fake universities". University World News. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
6. "Ferdous, Golap PM's special aides". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
7. "Hasina flies to US tomorrow". archive.thedailystar.net. The Daily Star. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
8. "PM appoints 4 special assistants". The Daily Star. 29 January 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
9. আবদুস সোবহান গোলাপ. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Retrieved 24 January 2019.
10. সংসদ নির্বাচন ২০১৮ ফলাফল. BBC News বাংলা (in Bengali). BBC Bengali. 27 December 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
11. "Get 11th Bangladesh National Election 2018 Results". The Daily Star. 14 November 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
12. "Abdus Sobhan on fresh remand, Tipu Munshi sent to jail". Prothom Alo. 2 September 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
13. "Bangladeshi Politician Close to Prime Minister Hasina Secretly Owns Over $4 Million in New York Real Estate". OCCRP. 13 January 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
14. "MP Abdus Sobhan bought homes worth $4m in US". Prothom Alo. 14 January 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.