Dhaka, May 17 (BDNEWS) – Family members of former Chief Justice KM Hassan had illegally occupied one katha sweeper passage beside his Dhanmondi residence for last 20 years before the controversial purchase, according to the Housing and Public Works Ministry.
The ministry opened the "Pandora's box" while contradicting a news item of BDNEWS that the one katha land was allotted to Justice Hassan, who is to head the next caretaker government under existing constitutional provision, from Sheikh Rehana's house.
"Mentionable that the one katha land of sweeper passage has been under the possession of the brothers and sisters of Justice KM Hassan for last 20 years," read the rejoinder itself, issued by the ministry.
It also said that the one katha land, which remained abandoned, was sold at Tk 800,000 - double the price compared to existing land price - under section 26 of Limitation Act of 1908 as it is the ancestral plot of Justice KM Hassan.
But the maps of the plots, obtained by BDNEWS, clearly showed that the one katha land belonged to the house of Sheikh Rehana that she bought during the past Awami League government and now is used as Dhanmondi police station.
The Housing and Public Works Ministry release said that the same ministry during the AL regime issued notice that the concerned plot holders can apply to buy the sweeper passages.
In line with the notice, the release said that four brothers and sisters of Justice KM Hassan on September 15, 2004 applied to purchase the one katha sweeper passage beside their plot and accordingly it was sold.
It is mysterious that why the family members of Justice KM Hassan applied for the sweeper passage in late 2004 although the ministry had notified for selling such sweeper passages during the Awami League government.
The release mentioned that the past Awami League government used to sell such sweeper passage at half price given by the family of Justice KM Hassan. It means others bought the sweeper passages during AL government, but not Justice Hassan.
The colonial concept of sweeper passage has long ago become obsolete.
According to the release, the AL government on July 11, 2001 allotted the house to Sheikh Rehana at a cost of only Tk 1,000 despite a writ petition was pending in the High Court.
"The house remained abandoned during the caretaker government. The present government on assumption of power took over the abandoned house following apprehension of occupation and allotted it to Dhanmondi thana," it said.
As the government allotted the house to Dhanmondi police station, Sheikh Rehana filed a writ petition in the High Court in January this year. She Tuesday lodged a fresh application with the High Court after the one katha land was allotted to Justice KM Hassan.
BDNEWS/1955 hrs
