Those in charge of housing running after plots-flats:Daily Sun

 National Housing Authority (NHA) is entrusted with the task of arranging plots and flats for the people of whole country. This is the only government establishment to provide housing service. But its officials and employees are interested more for self-service than for public service. The officials and employees are taking five/six plots-flats for each of themselves. Many of them, after taking in
own name, have taken more than one allotments in the names of wife children or close relatives. Over 50 officials and employees of this small size government establishment are reportedly doing this violating rules. Whereas, the rules of the ministry concerned says, no body will be allowed to take more than one allotment and allotment cannot be taken before completion of service for two years. These incidents of irregularities took place during the tenure of grand alliance minister Advocate Abdul Mannan Khan. People concerned alleged that he did not do the overseeing work he was supposed to perform as highest authority. In practice the rules are least maintained. Many do not abide by these. Rather, the people concerned engage in an undeclared competition to take allotment of plot flat in own name as a service-holder in this establishment. It is learnt that more than 50 offcials and employees of the establishment have taken allotment of over two hundred plots-flats at different times. From peon to additional secretary are there in this list. It is learnt that National Housing Authority (NHA) and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) have started collecting information in this regard. Housing and Public Works Minister vowed to take action against those who are involved in taking plots illegally. Experts said it is high time the corruption is controlled. Otherwise, the situation will be out of control of the government. Housing and Public Works Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain said “It is a serious problem if the persons entrusted with allocating plots remain busy with grabbing plots. I was ignorant of the matter. The NHA chairman will be directed to investigate into the allegation. We will show zero tolerance against any irregularity.” Sources said many officials of NHA have taken plots illegally in their names. Of them, NHA member Engineer Md Sanwar Ali took a 3 khata plot in Gopalganj housing project, a plot at Shibchar in Madaripur and a flat in Cox’s Bazar. NHA secretary Mozahed Hossain took a luxurious flat under Mirpur 360 project and 2.5 khata plot in Kushtia. Deputy Director (land and management) Kazi Mohammad Hassan took a flat at Halisahar in Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar each. Executive Engineer (planning) Gazi Mohammad Jahangir Hossain took a flat in Lalmatia 182 project, a 3 katha plot in Shibchar of Madaripur, a 5 katha plot in Gopalganj and a flat in Cox’s Bazar. Executive Engineer (Khulna Housing Office) Sayeed Reza took a flat in Lalmatia, a flat in Mohammadpur, a 3 katha plot in Sariatpur and a 2.5 katha plot in Kushtia. Executive Engineer (Chittagong Housing) Shahjalal Chowdhury took a plot at Pink City and Halisahar of Chittagong each. Assistant Director (Finance) Gulrukh Khadiza Jahan took a flat in Lalmatia 182 project and a 3.5 katha plot in Sariatpur. Former Deputy Director Kali Ranjan Barman took a 5 katha plot at Koibollodham in Chittagong, B/5 1,000 square feet flat and a plot in Shibchar. Sub Divisional Engineer Hafizur Rahman took a plot in Khulna, Sariatpur and Gopalganj each. Sub Divisional Engineer (Bogra Housing) Md Abu Horaira took a 5 katha plot in Chittagong, a plot in Shibchar and a plot in Magura. Sub Divisional Engineer (Dinajpur Housing) Md Moinul Haque Motayed took a flat at Anandanagar in Mirpur and a flat in Halisahar in Chittagong. Sub Divisional Engineer (E & M Division) Miraz Hossain took a plot in Sariatpur and Shibchar each. He also took a flat in Lalmatia. Sub Assistant Engineer (Mohammadpur Housing) Hamidur Rahman took a flat in Lalmatia. He took a plot in Khulna, Sariatpur and Kushtia each. Sub Assistant Engineer Hemayet Hossain took a 5 katha plot in Shibchar, a plot in Kushtia and a plot in Koibollodham each. Sub Assistant Engineer (Sylhet Housing) Md Ruhul Amin took a plot Natore and Pabna each. Sub Assistant Engineer Tarikul Islam took a 1,000 square feet flat in Mirpur and a plot in Kushtia. Administrative Officer (Khulna Housing) Md Ruhul Amin has taken a flat at Anandanagar in Mirpur and a flat at Cox’s Bazar. Sub Assistant Engineer (Rajshahi Housing) Humayun Kabir took a plot in Natore and Kushtia each. He also took a flat in Cox’s Bazar. Office Assistant Jamal Hossain has taken a flat of 1,224 square feet at Halisahar, a plot in Pink City and 3 katha plot Khulna. Office Assistant at Executive Engineer’s Office in Chittagong Sihabuddin Chowdhury has taken a plot in Pink City, Sher Shah and Rawjan each. MLSS Kazal Guha a plot in Shibchar and a flat in Cox’s Bazar. MLSS Rafikul Islam took a plot in Kushtia and Shibchar each. Many of the incumbent and former officials and employees of this organization have received plots and flats. Among them, Amzad Hossain took allotment of a flat in Cox’s Bazar and a plot in Natore and another in Kushtia. Zahid Hossain took a plot in Shariatpur and a flat in Cox’s Bazar, Md Nasir Uddin took six khatas of land in Shariatpur and Gopalganj and a plot in Kushtia, Abdul Ali took a flat at Lalmatia in the capital and a plot in Gopalganj, Kashem Hawlader took three kathas of land in Gopalganj, 3.5 kathas of land in Shariatpur, and four plots in Magura and Kushtia. Md Jahangir Alam took allotment of five kathas of land in Chittagong and a plot at Shibchar. About the issue, Sanowar Ali, member Engineering and Coordination (Additional Secretary) told this correspondent, “We have received the ministry’s directives about the issue lately. After getting the directives I completed all the instructions except one. The handing over issue was approved in 131th board meeting. I did it without having any idea.” Md Mozahed Hossain, Secretary of NHA demands that there is a ministry’s directive that nobody can take allotment of more than two plots. So he took one plot and a flat. Executive Engineer (Palnning) Gazi Md Jahangir Hossain told this correspondent, “I received six plots and flats through lottery. I don’t know policies. So there is no need for handing over.” Shihab Uddin Chowdhury, office assistant of Chittagong Housing office said, “I took allotment of two plots which I will return to the authority.” Executive Engineer Syed Reza of Khulna said, “We received it through lottery. Now government can cancel it.” Md Abu Horaira, Sub-Divisional Engineer of Bogra said, “I came to know that there is a decision of the ministry. Executive Engineer gave a plot in Magura to me.” Employees and officials of NHA demanded that everybody did not know the ministry’s decision. So a number of plots were allotted at that time. Now they will hand over additional plots by accepting the rules. Already seven to eight officials and employees handed over some 15 plots to the authority concerned. Requesting anonymity, an official said, “Most of the officials and employees who handed over plots and flats now fear for facing cases of ACC. If their income tax files are reviewed then it could be identified how much undisclosed money they have. One office assistant or a driver got allotment of 4/5 plots. He also took allotment of a number of plots and flats in favour of his wife, children and close relatives. The officer said if ministry and Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) form investigation committee then many will be implicated. Any such person would not be found who is engaged in NHA job but do not possess plot or flat. Regarding this, NHA Chairman Khandakar Md Akhteruzzaman said, “Officers or staffs will be informed to surrender the plots or flats to the authority concerned keeping one plot or flat who have taken more than one. Departmental action will be taken against those who will not surrender after getting notice. Because, as per the instruction of the ministry concerned one cannot hold more than one plots or flats on reserved quota.” Ministry sources said the housing and public works ministry took a decision over the allotment of plot or flat of government officials. Later on, a gazette was published in this regard. The gazette mentioned that one cannot get allotment of more than one plots or flats. Moreover, persons whose job tenure at the department concerned is less than two years cannot get allotment of plot or flat. But many of them are not caring for the relevant rules. It has been learnt that Deputy Director-2(land and property management) Kazi Mohammad Hasan has taken allotment of two flats in two projects after his joining to the office. When asked, he said, “Two flats which have been allotted for me were not handed over to me. I am a newcomer in this organisation and I am unaware about the policy.” A number of officers and staffs have taken allotment of plots and flats during the tenure of grand alliance government. Advocate Abdul Mannan Khan, former state minister for housing and public works ministry was the in-charge of the ministry. The lottery was drawn for plot project in Kushtia, Kaibalyadham plot project in Chittagong, Shibchar plot project in Madaripur, some 182-flat project at Lalmatia in Dhaka, flat project in Cox’s Bazar, Mohammadpur F-Block flat project, Anandanagar flat project at Mirpur in Dhaka, plot project in Gopalganj and plot project in Shariatpur. Abdul Mannan Khan had no objection for such irregularity. Rather, he approved those silently. Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan) Secretary Dr Badiul Alam Majumder said now is the time to take action against the officials or employees who have taken allotment of plots or flats illegally. The authority concerned should play tough role in this regard. Meanwhile, a team of ACC is now investigating the irregularity of the organisation. A camp office has been set up at the 6th floor of the Housing Bhaban. The team leader and ACC Deputy Director Hamidul Hasan told this correspondent, “We have started our work to have the details data and information of those persons who have taken allotment of plots or flats violating regulation. Cases will be filed after getting the number of allotment and name of receivers. We are performing our tasks following the direction of the director general of ACC. No one will be spared if he/she is involved in such irregularity.”