Government properties worth hundreds of crores of taka have been lost due to collusion between officials and employees, with many keeping lands under occupation through unrenewed leases or false court cases, Dhaka Zila Parishad Administrator Yasin Ferdous Murad said on Sunday.
“Many have kept lands under occupation after receiving annual leases but not renewing them. Others have kept properties under occupation through false cases and fabricated information in courts. As a result, the government is being deprived of a large amount of revenue,” he said during an exchange meeting with media personnel at his Uttara office.
Murad said the Zila Parishad owns 407 acres of land, several acres of which are under illegal occupation. Several community centres have also been encroached upon.
Initiatives have been taken to recover occupied properties in Kaliganj (Keraniganj), Katabon (Dhaka), Chand Community Centre (Mohammadpur), Gabtoli cattle market, various points in Uttara, Savar Thana Road, Katlapur, and Karnapara areas.
Actor Monwar Hossain Dipjol has been fined for keeping property under occupation in Gabtoli, Murad said. Government land is also under the occupation of Hanif Enterprise and Rozina Enterprise.
He noted that while the city corporation is leasing out the Gabtoli cattle market and collecting money, 47 acres of Zila Parishad land is located there.
A 20-storey building named Dhaka Tower has been constructed on Johnson Road in Old Dhaka at a cost of hundreds of crores of taka without approval, Murad said. Complications have arisen as construction work remains incomplete.
Several staff members have been sent to OSD for involvement in irregularities and embezzling government money, the administrator said.
Murad also alleged that land and properties of the Zila Parishad are under the occupation of the two city corporations. “Despite repeated letters, no proper response is being received. Even after informing the concerned minister and state minister, the city corporations have created complications,” he said, calling for transparency and accountability.
