Ministry flags irregularities in politically allocated 1,413 Rajuk plots, 67% in Purbachal

The Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) allocated 1,413 plots in its housing projects on political grounds during the Awami League’s 15 years in power from 2009 to 2024, with 944 plots, or around 67%, going to the Purbachal New Town project.

The Ministry of Housing and Public Works has flagged alleged irregularities in a significant number of these allocations, including claims that plots were awarded in violation of established rules and procedures.

The ministry presented an update on its investigation into the allocations at the second meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on housing and public works at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Sunday (25 October).

The meeting was chaired by committee chairman Rezaul Karim Badsha. Its papers included project-wise figures for politically influenced plot allocations between 2009 and 2024, along with details of the investigation.

Ministry sources said reports on alleged irregularities involving 874 plots in Purbachal and 200 in the Jhilmil residential area had been submitted to the ministry. Files relating to all 1,074 plots have been temporarily suspended.

The authorities are examining the allegations to establish their validity and considering legal action against those responsible, the sources said.

Purbachal accounts for two-thirds of allocations

According to the parliamentary committee’s meeting papers, Rajuk allocated one plot each in the Gulshan and Banani residential areas, 207 in Uttara, 944 in Purbachal New Town and 260 in Jhilmil during the 2009–2024 period.

Purbachal accounted for approximately 67% of the total, followed by Jhilmil at around 18% and Uttara at nearly 15%. Gulshan and Banani received one plot each.

The figures show that nearly two out of every three plots allocated on political grounds went to Purbachal, a major housing project on the outskirts of the capital.

Members of parliament constituted a significant group among the beneficiaries, although recipients also included people from various professions.

Rules governing allocations under reserved quotas allow consideration of individuals who have made special contributions at the national level. The investigation is examining whether recipients’ eligibility, evidence of their contributions and the required approvals from relevant authorities were properly verified.

Investigation flags alleged breaches of rules

The meeting papers said prescribed notification and application procedures had not been followed in several cases.

In many instances, applicants had allegedly failed to submit applications within the deadlines specified in allocation notices. There were also allegations that plots had been allocated without any application being submitted.

The report further identified alleged failures to comply with applicable laws, regulations and project prospectuses, particularly in the Jhilmil residential project, Purbachal New Town and Uttara Adarsha Nagar.

The prescribed conditions and procedures for allocations under reserved quotas had also allegedly been breached.

Questions have also been raised over whether the authorities had adequate documentation to establish recipients’ special or significant contributions at the national level and whether the necessary ministry approvals had been obtained.

The ongoing examination seeks to establish who received the plots, the eligibility criteria applied to individual recipients, how allocation decisions were made and whether the relevant rules and procedures were followed.