A government plot covering 20 katha has allegedly been grabbed by a real estate company. Photo : Messenger
In Dhaka's prestigious Dhanmondi area, an unsettling situation has arisen concerning a government plot spanning 20 khata or 33 decimal places, allegedly unlawfully acquired by a real estate company.
The accusation revolves around the purported sale of this plot, achieved through the impersonation of a fabricated owner, prompting a formal complaint lodged with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
The alleged misdeed is projected to incur a staggering loss of at least Tk 300 crore to the government coffers, further exacerbating the gravity of the situation. Sources within the ACC have confirmed the acceptance of this complaint by the ACC Scrutiny Committee, signifying a significant step in enquiring these accusations.
Moreover, seeking guidance and input on this sensitive matter, the ACC has approached the National Housing Authority (NHA), highlighting the complexity and severity of the alleged irregularities surrounding this disputed plot.
The involvement of such authoritative bodies underscores the magnitude of the situation and emphasizes the need for a comprehensive and diligent investigation into the matter.
When asked whether any investigation committee has been formed in this regard, Chairman of the National Housing Authority Khondoker Mostafizur Rahman told The Daily Messenger on Tuesday night, "I can say by looking at the file, it is a land issue." I can't say without seeing the documents.”
This Correspondent went to the spot on December 1 and found that a signboard for Diptayan was hanging on plot number 30 (old 134) of road number 4 in Dhanmondi.
After knocking at the gate, a female caretaker came and said that entering was prohibited as instructed by Jewel, Monir, and industrialist Shaheen.
“The house will be demolished, and all responsibilities lie with Abdul Quader Bhuiyan’’ said the caretaker. She also said that a woman named Nasreen Akhter Mou has ill motives and plans to grab the land for herself.
Later, when this correspondent called the managing partner of Baitul Overseas and Barnamala, Abdul Quader Bhuiyan's mobile number, he told The Daily Messenger, 'I am the manager. My boss, Shaheen Ahmed, knows about this. As far as I know, there are 39 people, including him, who bought the land. However, the document on the land was absolutely fine when they bought the land.
When asked about the Diptayan organisation, he said, “It is our association.” When asked for Shaheen Ahmed's mobile number, he disconnected the call.
According to ACC sources, a residential area was developed by the urban development wing of the CB&I Department of the East Pakistan government in the former Lalbagh, now Dhanmondi police station area. Plot No. 134 of the layout plan was allotted on August 6, 1950, in favour of Syed Abdul Majid, son of the late Syed Abdul Aziz, by creating separate plots as per Layout Plan No. P-2B, prepared and published on September 18, 1951.On January 29, 1952, Syed Abdul Majid's name was registered through deed number 780 and registered at the Dhaka Sadar Joint Sub-Registry Office. In early 1972, while Bhog was in possession, he left the plot after being threatened by some unknown miscreants. The house then went on the government's list of abandoned houses as vacant.In 1986; Syed Abdul Majeed filed a petition for release from the abandoned list in the First Settlement Court under the Ministry of Public Works. Syed Abdul Majid died on July 19, 1990, leaving Syed Torab Majid as the only legitimate heir. Later, Syed Torab Majeed entered his name in place of Syed Abdul Majeed, plaintiff in First Settlement Court Case No. 175/1995. The First Settlement Court ruled to remove the house from the list of abandoned houses. However, Syed Torab Majeed did not get the house and filed a writ petition (No. 4015/2004) in the High Court.
The High Court ordered him to show possession. But, without implementing the High Court judgement, a civil petition was filed to live in the house in the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. At the end of the hearing, he got the verdict.
In order to implement the judgement order of all the courts and in view of the order of contempt case (No. 231/10) on December 5, 2010, the Ministry of Housing and Public Works released the house from the 'KA' list published in the Bangladesh Gazette of September 23, 1986, and conveyed the ownership to Syed Torab Majid.
The Public Works Maintenance Department handed over the house to him on March 21, 2011, and he registered it on June 16.
However, due to a lack of money, he wanted to sell the plot. The development wing of the Ministry of Housing and Interior gave permission to sell the land on July 12, 2011.
Syed Torab Majid sold the plot to Parvin Properties and Technologies Limited on August 25, 2011, for a total of 8 crore, 12 lakh, 75 thousand in cash, including the value of the land (8 crore) and the dilapidated building (12 lakh, 75 thousand).
Parvin Akhtar, Managing Director of Parvin Properties and Technologies Ltd., signed the deed as receiver. She is said to be the wife of Abu Sufian, the former director of Bashundhara Group.
According to a letter dated September 19, 2023, signed by Muhammad Iqbal Hussain, Joint Secretary, Development Division, Ministry of Housing and Public Works (7), permission has been given to transfer and register the plot in the name of 39 persons following the application of Parvin Properties and Technologies Limited. Handed over by Parvin Akhtar, Managing
Director of Parvin Properties and Technologies Limited,.
A complaint has been lodged with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) regarding the plot. According to the complaint, the real name of Syed Torab Majid is Syed Torab Hossain. His father's name is Syed Monowar Hossain, not Abdul Majid. They are seven brothers. Syed Torab Hossain was lured by Lalmatiar Ali Hossain, alias Muhammad Ali, to the businessman Abu Safian.
They disguised Syed Torab Majid as Syed Abdul Majid and grabbed the plot with the help of dishonest employees of the Public Works Ministry, Abu Sufian, and his wife, Parvin Akhtar, Managing Director of Parvin Properties and Technologies Limited. They registered it in the name of Parvin Properties and Technologies Limited on August 23, 2011 (Dec. No. 4847).
Later, permission was obtained from the Ministry of Works to sell the plot.
A complaint has been lodged with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) regarding the plot. According to the complaint, the real name of Syed Torab Majid is Syed Torab Hossain. His father's name is Syed Monowar Hossain, not Abdul Majid. They are seven brothers. Syed Torab Hossain was lured by Ali Hossain, alias Muhammad Ali, and he took Torab to businessman Abu Safian. They disguised Syed Torab Majid as Syed Abdul Majid and illegally grabbed the plot with the help of dishonest employees of the Public Works Ministry, Abu
Sufian, and his wife, Parvin Akhtar, Managing Director of Parvin Properties and Technologies Limited.
They registered it in the name of Parvin Properties and Technologies Limited on August 23, 2011 (Dec. No. 4847). Later, permission was obtained from the Ministry of Works to sell the plot.
Two of the three mobile numbers available on Parvin Properties and Technologies Limited's website went unanswered. A woman received a number and said it was the wrong number (not that of Parvin Properties and Technologies Limited).
A call to Abu Sufyan's mobile number was found to be switched off.
Syed Abdul Majeed's number was also found to be closed.
Messenger/Disha
