Controversial 'Banani BNP Palli' yet to be scrapped

Residential buildings have already been constructed on the plots in the controversial 'BNP Palli' at Banani in the capital.Photo: STAR

The ongoing construction at the "Banani BNP Palli" stands as a glaring example of nepotism during the four-party rule, as the then government allotted the Rajuk plots to party men, businesspersons and intellectuals loyal to it.
Former ministers, state ministers and lawmakers of the BNP-Jamaat alliance government, son of the immediate past president and pro-BNP intellectuals controversially got the plots abusing power and violating the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) rules.
Although the caretaker government initially withheld the registration process of the plots, it later allowed the allottees to go ahead with construction at the housing project popularly known as "Banani BNP Palli".
During the interim rule, only three of the 50 allottees declined the plots, say sources in Rajuk. But others have got their plots registered, while many of them have already erected six-storey houses there.
"We have already given clearance to the registered plots, for which the allottees have deposited all instalments as per the government decision," says an official of Rajuk.
Forty-five plot owners have so far completed the registration process and two more have also got the clearance after paying the instalments.
Four more plot owners who shifted their possession of plot from an Uttara project to Banani also got clearance after registration.
Earlier, Rajuk suspended the process of registration on February 26, 2007 after the military-backed caretaker government assumed power. But the authorities lifted the suspension on January 29 last year and approved construction on the plots without any public announcement.
According to rules, people having land property in the capital are not eligible to get Rajuk plots. But some of the allottees own land property in the capital.
Though applications were sought through an open announcement for the plots in 2004 and around 3,000 people applied, only influential BNP ministers, state ministers, lawmakers and BNP-leaning intellectuals got those at the fag-end of BNP rule.
Former mayors of Rajshahi and Barisal Mizanur Rahman Minu and Mojibur Rahman Sarwar, MP will be the next-door neighbours in Banani. Houses of former BNP state ministers Alamgir Kabir and Prof Rezaul Karim of Narayanganj are also next to each other.
Besides, former state ministers Fazlur Rahman Patal, Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu, former lawmaker Md Alauddin, and former DU vice-chancellor Prof Maniruzzaman Miah have already raised six-storey houses on their land.
Their caretakers are taking care of the under construction buildings.
Most of the allottees started the construction even before registration or paying the instalments. Some of them are behind bars but have managed to have the land registered in their names.
Among the allottees, Lutfozzaman Babar and Salauddin of Demra did not take their plots, Rajuk sources say. They add former housing minister Mirza Abbas influenced the authorities to allot a plot for his brother's wife Masuda Akram.
The Daily Star had run a report on the matter during the four-party rule in which the then Rajuk chairman said, "Applying for allotment of the Gulshan-Banani land is open to all. But it is natural that we have to give priority to ministers, lawmakers and judges. And the number of plots is very limited."
Of the 50 plots, Rajuk allotted five to ministers, 10 to state ministers, two to mayors, 24 to BNP lawmakers and two to Awami League and Jatiya Party lawmakers.
Besides, a former vice-chancellor, a former adviser to the foreign ministry, son of the president, sister-in-law of Mirza Abbas, and three businessmen known to be close to Hawa Bhaban also got plots.
The former state ministers are Alamgir Kabir, Fazlur Rahman Patal, Barkatullah Bulu, Lutfar Rahman Khan Azad, Mir Mohammad Nasir Uddin, ANM Ehsanul Haq Milon, Lutfozzaman Babar, Selima Rahman, Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu, and Asadul Habib Dulu.
Imtiaz Ahmed, son of former president Iajuddin Ahmed, Mofikul Hasan Tripty, BNP's central office secretary who is known as very close to Hawa Bhaban, Ahsan Habib from Narsingdi, Hasan Reza, a businessman, and Reaz Rahman, former adviser to the foreign ministry, also got plots in 'Banani BNP Palli' [BNP Village].
Former BNP lawmakers who got plots are M Naser Rahman, son of former finance minister Saifur Rahman, Major (retd) Sayeed Eskander, brother of former prime minister and BNP chief Khaleda Zia, Shahidul Islam, Moshiur Rahman, Shahidul Alam Talukder, Shajahan Chowdhury, Mojibor Rahman Monzu, Md Hafiz Ibrahim, Nazim Uddin Alam, M Ilias Ali, Fazlul Haq Milon, Moazzem Hossain Alal, Abul Hossain Khan, Abdul Hai, Abul Khayer Bhuiyan, Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie, Alamgir Haider Khan, Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu, Salahuddin Ahmed, Kabir Hossain, Nadim Mostafa, Khairul Kabir Khokon, late Shamsuddin Ahmed Eshak, and Habibul Islam Habib.
Former lawmakers Hafizuddin Ahmed of Thakurgaon from Jatiya Party and Hamida Banu Shova of Nilphamari from Awami League also got plots.
The caretaker government on February 26, 2007 suspended allotment of 50 plots in Banani, 50 plots in Uttara, 48 plots in Tongi Industrial Area, three institutional plots in Uttara Residential Area, 534 plots in Badda rehabilitation project and one institutional plot in Nikunja Residential Area, Rajuk sources say.
The government on January 29 last year conditionally lifted the suspension on 338 plots.