Tk 10cr rly land goes to BSEHR for Tk 5,001
Staff Correspondent
The communications ministry yesterday leased out a railway land worth about Tk 10 crore to a human-rights organisation, founded by its minister and led by his wife, at a token price reportedly defying the prime minister's objection. Mohammad Amjad Hossian, chief estate officer (East, Chittagong) of Bangladesh Railway (BR) signed the contract for BR and Advocate Alina Khan for Bangladesh Society for Enforcement of Human Rights (BSEHR), said a press release of the Press Information Department. The 10,720 square feet land to the west of the Osmani Uddyan was leased out at Tk 5001. The BSEHR will build a 10-storey headquarters on the land. The 25th meeting of the BR with the communications minister in the chair had decided in favour of the lease. Later, the proposal was sent to the Prime Minister's Office for approval, but to no avail, sources said. The minister approved the proposal and ordered the BR to make the contract, despite the prime minister's refusal to give the nod, said sources in the ministry. The state minister for communications too expressed discontent at the lease while the office of the political secretary to the prime minister ordered the communications secretary not to go ahead with the plan, sources added. According to the terms of the contract, the second floor of the building will be given to the BR without any price or rent, said the press note. The terms also say the lessee will have to give the BR an extra floor for free for every additional 10 storeys. President of BSEHR Sultan Hossain Khan said they would begin the construction the next three years, said the press release.
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