RAJUK
JS Affairs: 34,036 applications for design approval received by Rajuk
State Minister for Housing and Public Works Sharif Ahmed on Thursday said that some 34,036 applications for design approval have been received in Rajuk since the start of online design approval process in 2019.
“Among those, 22, 933 applications have been approved as those were submitted with necessary documents,” he said.
The minister said this while responding to a tabled question from ruling party MP Anwar Hossain Khan.
Ahmed said that the Rajuk launched an online service to ensure transparency and accountability in design approval from May 2, 2019.
A total of 81 applications were rejected as per rules due to various inconsistencies.
At present, 3,859 applications are under process at various stages in the capital development authority.
Apart from this, 7,164 applications have been forwarded to the applicants at various times due to non-submission of required documents by the concerned owners or representatives.
In response to the question of ruling party MP Mamunur Rashid, Education Minister Dipu Moni said that currently there are 20,316 secondary level educational institutions under the secondary and higher education departments across the country.
Read more: Rajuk on its way to redevelop centuries-old Old Dhaka
Among them, 2,357 lower secondary schools (6th to 8th), 16,516 secondary schools (6th to 10th) and 1,443 schools and colleges.
In response to the question of ruling party MP Nurunnabi Chowdhury, Science and Technology Minister Yeafesh Osman said that BCSIR has so far invented 1,45 technological methods and obtained patent rights for 376 methods.
So far 263 technologies/methods have been leased to more than 300 industrialists or organisations.
In response to the question of AL MP Manjur Hossain, the education minister said that the total number of Alia Madrasahs under the Technical and Madrasa Education Department is 9,292.
Of these, there are three government madrasas.
There are 8,229 madrasas under Monthly Pay Order (MPO) and 1,600 non-MPO madrasas.
Apart from this, there are 8,972 madrasas run independently.
DPP being reframed to build Turag and Keraniganj townships: Sharif Ahmed
Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakkha (RAJUK) is working to reframe development project proposals (DPPs) to develop two townships in Turag and Keraniganj as part of step to reduce the growing pressure of population in Dhaka city.
State Minister for Housing and Public Works Sharif Ahmed said this in Parliament on Thursday, replying to a tabled question from Awami League MP Mohammad Habib Hasan (Dhaka-18).
Read more: Rajuk on its way to redevelop centuries-old Old Dhaka
In the scripted answer, Sharif said the initiatives were taken to undertake two projects titled ‘Conservation of Flood Flow Zone of Turag River and Compact Township Development Project' and 'Waterfront Smart City Project’ in Keraniganj.
He said the feasibility studies on the two projects have been completed. “In line with the recommendations of the feasibility studies, the reframing works of DPPs of the two projects now continue,” he said.
Besides, the implementation works of a satellite town project continue to reduce the pressure of population in the capital, said the state minister.
The infrastructural development and plot allotment of the project titled ‘Purbachal New Town’ has been completed, while the construction works for other civic facilities are near completion, he added.
Read more: RAJUK lauches work on deep tube wells for Purbachal New Town project
In reply to a scripted question from AL lawmaker M Abdul Latif (Chattogram-11), the state minister said the National Housing Authority has a plan to construct some 3,816 residential flats under seven residential flat construction projects in order to provide the residential facilities at low cost in Dhaka.
Besides, the authority has already implemented 10 residential flat construction projects in Mirpur and Mohammadpur in Dhaka and constructed 4,358 flats, he said.
The construction of 3,611 residential flats under seven other projects continue in the capital city, said Sharif.
BGMEA urges Rajuk to allocate land for apparel club for foreign nationals
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has urged the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) to allocate land at Purbachal to build an apparel club to facilitate the meeting and recreation of foreign nationals working for global brands and buyers in Bangladesh offices and apparel factories.
The club would help to build a good rapport with the foreign nationals and expats working in the readymade garments (RMG) sector, BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said Monday.
He met with Rajuk Chairman Md Anisur Rahman Miah at his office in Dhaka. BGMEA Vice-President Miran Ali was also present.
Faruque talked about the achievements of the RMG industry that have boosted the trust and confidence of global buyers in the garments with the "Made in Bangladesh" tag.
Now global brands and buyers are more interested in expanding their business in Bangladesh, he said.
HC questions govt’s inaction to free house from AL MP Murshedy’s occupation
The High Court on Tuesday (November 01, 2022) issued a rule questioning why the authorities’ failure and inaction to free a house from Awami League MP Abdus Salam Murshedy’s illegal occupation will not be declared illegal.
It also directed the authorities concerned to submit all documents regarding allotment of the abandoned house in the capital’s Gulshan to Awami League MP Abdus Salam Murshedy.
Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) chairman, Housing and Public Works secretary and Khulna-4 constituency MP Murshedy have been asked to submit the documents within 10 days in affidavit form.
Read more: Salam Murshedy elected MP uncontested
The High Court bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat came up with the directive during a hearing on a writ petition filed in this regard in the public interest.
The court has fixed November 13, for the next hearing.
Petitioner Supreme Court lawyer Syed Sayedul Haque Suman said the abandoned house in Gulshan is the property of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works but the Khulna-4 MP illegally occupied it with the help of Rajuk.
Read more: Defaming PM: HC grants bail to Rajbari Mahila Dal leader
On October 30, the SC lawyer submitted the writ petition seeking an investigation into it.
According to the petition, house no 29 of road 104 at Gulshan- 2 was enlisted as abandoned by the government in 1986.
Three letters sent to Rajuk by the Housing and Public Works Ministry in 2015 and 2016 seeking an explanation for the illegal occupation of the house by Murshedy were attached to the petition.
Read More: Defaming PM: HC grants bail to Rajbari Mahila Dal leader
As RAJUK chairman didn’t respond to the letters the writ petition was filed challenging the authority’s inaction against the occupation of the abandoned house by AL MP Murshedy.
Rajuk on its way to redevelop centuries-old Old Dhaka
Imagine an Old Dhaka with wider roads, less congestion, better water and electricity supply.
That’s what the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) wants to achieve in its ambitious plan to refurbish the centuries-old Mughal-era parts of the capital city, better known as Old Dhaka.
The city development authority has selected seven spots for renovation of Old Dhaka where feasibility studies are going to start soon.
The spots are Islampur, Chawkbazar, Bongshal, Moulvibazar, Hazaribag, Swarighat and Kamrangirchar, where the dwellers face problems like narrow lanes, rundown buildings, high population density, risky electricity connection, lack of pure drinking water, decreasing open spaces and faulty drainage system, said Ashraful Islam, Chief City Planner of Rajuk and Project Director of Rajuk’s Detailed Area Plan (DAP).
Read: Chemical warehouses: Old Dhakaites still living with ticking time bombs
RAJUK lauches work on deep tube wells for Purbachal New Town project
Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) on Monday inaugurated the deep tube well construction work on Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis to supply water to the Purbachal New Town project.
On behalf of RAJUK Chairman (Secretary), Major (Engr) Shamsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury (Retd), Member (Development) of RAJUK has inaugurated the construction work at 102 Road of Sector 3 of Purbachal project area, said a press release.
Engr. Ujjwal Mallick, chief engineer (Implementation) of RAJUK, Md. Aminur Rahman, project director of Purbachal New Town Project, Md Manirul Haque, project director of Purbachal water supply project; and associated officers and staffs were also present at the inauguration ceremony.
Aiming to supply 340 million liters of water daily in the Purbachal New Town project area, 320 kilometers (km) pipeline network, 15 deep tube-wells, an administrative building and a workshop will be constructed under Purbachal Water Supply Project.
This PPP project is being implemented at a cost of Tk 592.39 crore out of which by RAJUK will invest Tk 299.80 crore and the remaining cost will be borne by the project company United Delcot Water Limited.
The project will be implemented in four phases. In first phase of the project, water will be supplied in five sectors (sector 1, 2,3,4,5) by June 2022 and by the end of December 2024, water will be supplied periodically to the rest of the sectors of Purbachal New Town.
Out of 15, three deep tube wells will be constructed in first phase among which the work of the first one started today.
By these deep tube wells water will be supplied till 2028 and afterwards water demand will be fulfilled with surface water supplied by Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA).
Regarding this, negotiations are underway between Dhaka WASA and RAJUK.
READ: Iconic Purbachal CBD project launched
Mentioning this as the first water supply project on PPP basis in Bangladesh, Member (implementation) of RAJUK hopes affluent people would come to reside in the Purbachal township and asked for everyone’s cooperation regarding this.
The development works of Purbachal new town is in its final phase.
Out of 26,000 plots under Purbachal New Town Project, 22,000 plots has already been handed over to their owners.
Out of 320 kilometres of road network, 300 kilometers work has been completed.
Also out of 56 bridges, 39 bridges construction work has been done and remaining 17 bridges will be completed by June 2022.
Supply of Electricity has been done for all the sectors.
Purbachal link road construction work will be completed by June 2022, said the release.
City corporations' approval will be needed for construction work: LGRD Minister
Approval will be needed from the concerned city corporation along with Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) in order to erect any kind of establishment in Dhaka,
Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Minister Md Tajul Islam made the announcement on Sunday while attending a meeting at the secretariat on evaluations of measures taken by the city corporations to resolve waterlogging issue in Dhaka and Chattogram ahead of monsoon.
The minister asked the city mayors to stay alert about anyone facing harassment while taking approval from the city corporations.
The minister said concerned ministry, department, office, organisations, private organisations or individuals will need to seek approval for constructions and arrangements will need to be made to monitor them after giving approval.
Md Tajul Islam said, “There are many bridges in Dhaka city and adjoining areas but they have no navigation facilities for vessels. Decision has been taken to construct new bridges by breaking the old ones keeping navigation facilities.”
Also read: Buildings having rainwater harvesting system to get tax waiver: DNCC Mayor
Mentioning occupation of canals and water bodies as one of the main causes of waterlogging the minister said in this monsoon there will be no waterlogging as Dhaka North and South City Corporations are working to ensure no such public suffering occurs.
He said both the city corporations have already started eviction drives to remove these illegal occupations and the north city corporation is working to make the city beautiful along with creating water retention ponds.
Also read: Recovered city canals will end waterlogging and add beauty: LGRD Minister
Minister Tajul Islam decided to form a sub committee led by additional secretary of LGRD Ministry for solving waterlogging, to recover the canals and repair them at Chattogram City Corporation.
ACC seeks wealth information of Rajuk engineer, 4 others
The Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) has issued a notice seeking asset statements of five government officials including the chief engineer (implementation) of Rajuk.
Read: Illegal buildings: Rajuk officials to be under DNCC’s radar
Deputy director of ACC public relations office Muhammad Arif Sadeq told UNB on Monday that they were asked to submit their asset statements within 21 working days.
The five government officials are additional chief engineer of Public Works Department of Dhaka metropolitan area Pradeep Kumer Basu, his wife Taposhi Das, supervising engineer of Roads and Highways department of Khulna Zone, councillor of Ward number-9 of Tarabo Municipality of Rupganj Upazilla of Narayanganj Atiqur Rahman, chief engineer of Rajuk ( implementation) and Project Director of Urban resilience project of Rajuk part Abdul Latif Helali , his wife Rozina Begum, and former office assistant of Rajuk Abdul Jalil Akanda and his wife Jahanara Begum.
Read: ACC sues Rajuk employee
They have been directed to submit to the Commission statements of their all movable and immovable property, liabilities, sources of income and their acquisition in the name of themselves and their dependents, the spokesperson said.
The notice further said that if they fail to submit the statements of asset within the stipulated time or submit false statements, action would be taken against them as per sub-section (2) of section 26 of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act.
Councillors found occupying canals to lose post: DNCC Mayor
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Md Atiqul Islam has warned that any councillor found guilty of occupying a canal, or committing any other crime, will lose their post.