Allegations of fraud through flat sale contracts have been raised against a developer firm named Kopotakkho Homes Ltd in the capital’s Bashundhara Residential Area.
Even after the full amount was paid according to the contract, Sushanta Kumar Bhowmik, managing director (MD) of the firm, is demanding additional payment instead of handing over and registering flats within the specified timeframe.
Allegations have also emerged that when victim clients demand their due flats, he hurls abuses and death threats.
According to victims, these incidents of fraud occurred at the “Islam Garden” project in Bashundhara Residential Area. In addition to intimidating clients, Bhowmik threatens to harass them using the police.
He even telephoned Mohammad Mazharul Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Bhatara Police Station, to exert pressure to register cases or a general diary (GD) against the victims instead.
Commenting on the issue, OC Mazharul told TIMES, “Legal action will be taken if anyone submits a specific written complaint against Kopotakkho’s Managing Director Sushanta, because no one is above the law.”
Breach of contract, widespread harassment
Hafijur Rahman, one of the victims, told TIMES that despite paying the full amount for flat “B/3” in Islam Garden, the Kopotakkho Homes MD is not granting flat registration, breaching the contract and written commitment.
Moreover, using the excuse of additional space, not present in the RAJUK-approved layout plan, he is demanding additional payment.
On 15 September, when he went to the office of Kopotakkho Homes Ltd to inquire about the flat handover, Bhowmik behaved extremely rudely with him and threatened him with death. Other flat owners in the same building have also levelled various allegations against Sushanta Bhowmik.
Abdur Rahim, a professor and owner of flat “B/4-5,” told TIMES that despite collecting all money according to the contract, construction work on the building remains incomplete. Sushanta, managing director of the firm, misbehaves with everyone, treats them with contempt, and hurls abuses.
Khairul Islam, owner of flat “B/6,” described Bhowmik as a “swindler” and said despite taking money, he is creating problems by withholding registration.
Rezwan Kabir, owner of flat “B/8,” said Sushanta’s behaviour is extremely bad and there is no certainty as to when flat registration will be granted. This picture of fraud is not confined to Bashundhara alone.
Monjur Murshed, owner of flat ‘B/7’, stated that at another project of Kopotakkho in Rajabazar, Farmgate, clients are similarly being harassed by being denied flat registration despite money being taken.
On the other hand, Sajib, a Dubai expatriate and owner of flat “B/9,” said Sushanta is an extremely cunning person who has secured bank loans against all the flats. Sajib mentioned that he managed to get his own flat registered through the bank.
Denial of claims and obscene abuse
To seek comments regarding these allegations, the TIMES reporter visited Kopotakkho Homes Ltd office in Bashundhara Residential Area on Sunday. At that time, MD Bhowmik claimed that flat registrations were not provided because clients did not pay instalments properly.
At one point while giving his statement to the reporter, Bhowmik hurled obscene abuses aimed at the flat owners.
Simultaneously, mentioning the name of a superintendent of police (SP), he telephoned the officer-in-charge of Bhatara Police Station and asked him to record cases and a general diary (GD) against the flat owners.
