75pc DCC shops goes on lottery

The Ministry of LGRD and Cooperatives and the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) yesterday decided that 75 per cent of the shops of the DCC would be allotted through lottery.

Earlier, the LGRD ministry proposed that 90 per cent of city corporation shops would be allotted through lottery and the rest from the mayor's quota.

The DCC and the ministry formulated a policy to this end, which would also be applicable to all other city corporations. The policy aims to check irregularities and corruption in allotment of shops of city corporations, sources said.

The policy was finalised at a review meeting of the DCC held with LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan in the chair. The DCC mayor, Minister of State for LGRD Ziaul Haq Zia, Deputy Minister for LGRD Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu and other high officials attended the meeting.

At the meeting, DCC Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka expressed his reservations about the 10 per cent ceiling on the mayor's quota. He contended that all the past mayors had allotted shops by issuing statutory regulatory order (SRO), as there was no such policy.

Khoka argued that there are thousands of unemployed freedom fighters who are living in misery for long. Besides, many others who have made positive contributions in society were ignored by successive governments.

He said the DCC could provide them with shops to help them make a living and for that 25 per cent of the city corporation shops should be allotted from the mayor's quota. Finally, the meeting accepted the mayor's proposal.

Under the new policy, there will be a 10-member shop allotment committee headed by the chief executive officer of city corporation. This committee will approve the allotment of shops.

Other members of the committee are three DCC ward commissioners (two male and one female), deputy secretary (municipality) of the LGRD ministry, secretary of the city corporation, chief engineer, chief revenue officer, deputy revenue officer and estate officer of the city corporation.

The new policy stipulates that shops would have to start business within six months of allotment and possession. Prior permission for transfer of ownership and regular deposit of certain fees with the public exchequer are also required.