45 housing companies run business illegally, grab khas land

Dhaka, March 3 (BDNEWS) – A total of 45 developers and housing companies are dealing in housing projects without RAJUK's approval.

Some of them have even grabbed Khas land to run their businesses, a meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on land was informed Thursday.

The members of the committee recommended filing cases against the unapproved companies.

Committee chairman Advocate Mahbubur Rahman chaired the meeting.

The members alleged that housing companies are illegally selling plots to people. The RAJUK chairman said, cases have already been filed against two developers and housing companies under the town improvement act. Cases will be filed against Ashulia Model Town (Amin Mohammad Foundation), Green Model Town (Amin Mohammad Foundation), Town View Housing Project, Eastern Housing, Mohammadia Housing, Noboday Housing, Bashumati Housing and some others.

The chief conservator of the forests apprised the meeting that Amin Mohammad Foundation and Ashulia Model Town Projects have grabbed 28.95 acres of land at khagan mouza, 20.83 acres at Choubaria mouza, and 46.09 acres at Dampara mouza under Savar thana. The foreman of the Land Reform Board and assistant commissioner (Land) of Savar said, Amin Mohammad Foundation has grabbed 70 acres of land of Nawab Estate and 35 acres of khash land for its Ashulia Model Project.

The meeting was told that huge amount of lands are being grabbed due to lack of proper supervision. The ministry for land has acquired lands for government institutions. But those institutions are not returning pieces of land not required by them.

Members of the committee have demanded return of those acquired lands to the land ministry.

A parliamentary sub-committee has been formed headed by Kabir Hossain MP to review the legal aspects of returning the acquired surplus lands to the land ministry. The other members of the committee are: Enamul Haque, Nurul Huda, Abdul Karim Abbas, Promod Mankin, Abdullah Al Shaki and Ali Kadar. The committee has been asked to submit its report within one month.

mir/eh/2007 hrs