Land acquisition: Dipu Moni trashes graft allegation

Terming the allegation of corruption in the land acquisition for Chandpur Science and Technology University "untrue and fabricated", Education Minister Dipu Moni yesterday alleged that her political rivals were trying to tarnish her image ahead of the next parliamentary election.

Speaking at a press briefing at her official residence in the capital last evening, the minister requested the government agencies concerned to investigate whether any anomalies and corruption took place.

A report run by Bangla daily Prothom Alo yesterday said a section of influential people having close ties to the education minister abnormally inflated the price of the62.5-acre land in Chandpur's Laxmipur union for setting up the university.

According to the local administration, the price of the land was hiked by Tk 359 crore from the actual price.

There is an allegation that those influential people are Dipu Moni's relatives and have close ties to her.

The education minister, also an Awami League lawmaker from Chandpur, yesterday said her brother Jawadur Rahim Wadud had bought land in Laxmipur union to set up a hospital and an old folks' home. The property also falls in the proposed area of the university.

She said her brother "transferred the land at deed price before its acquisition to avoid a conflict of interest".

Dipu Moni, however, could not say to whom her brother sold the land.

Local union parishad Chairman Selim Khan and upazila Chairman Jahidul Islam are among the influential people who bought a large portion of the land forcibly ahead of the land acquisition to pocket extra money as compensation, according to the newspaper report.

Asked whether she knew the matter, she said, "I was unaware of it. I only learnt about it from today's [yesterday's] media report."

The minister admitted that the UP and upazila chairmen have close political links with her.

Responding to a question from a journalist, the minister said she would raise the issue of some AL leaders spreading propaganda against her in the party forum.