By Nababchy, Daily Times Asian Correspondent
Chattogram, October 13, 2024 – Allegations of significant corruption and irregularities have emerged against the Ministry of Land regarding the allocation of 470 acres of coastal land in the Sitakunda Upazila of Chattogram’s Char Bashbaria area.
The influential Bashundhara Group has reportedly acquired this land for petrochemical production, oil refining, and a port terminal at a price significantly below market value, leading to substantial losses in government revenue.
According to official documents and internal sources, the market value of this coastal land, categorized as “beachfront” or baluchar, stood at approximately 2.35 billion BDT as per the 2017-18 mouza rate.
However, through a suspicious and expedited process, the Ministry of Land reclassified the land as “waterlogged,” or doba, and granted long-term lease rights to Bashundhara Group for just 550 million BDT.
This decision has reportedly cost the government around 1.8 billion BDT in lost revenue, raising serious concerns about the economic integrity of the state.
Experts have described this process as a blatant abuse of power and a conspiracy within the ministry. It is believed that local administrators and officials from the Ministry of Land acted in collusion to quickly change the classification of the land and award the lease.
No proper environmental impact assessments or field surveys were conducted before the reclassification, in clear violation of existing laws and regulations.
Environmental activists have expressed alarm over the potential ecological impacts of this allocation, as coastal land plays a vital role in maintaining local biodiversity.
The abrupt reclassification and lease could disrupt the natural habitat and threaten the livelihoods of local communities dependent on the coastline. They warn that without transparency and accountability in future land allocations, similar problems could arise on a larger scale.
While the government has yet to issue an official statement on the matter, sources confirm that an investigation is currently underway. Allegations suggest that high-ranking officials within the Ministry of Land may have been influenced by powerful business interests. Investigators are conducting a thorough probe to uncover the full scope of corruption.
No official decision has yet been made regarding penalties or corrective action, but the government has promised to take strong measures to restore public trust and hold those responsible accountable.
