Rajuk files petition with HC over commercial establishments in Hatirjheel

Rajuk has filed a civil miscellaneous petition with the High Court urging it to review a verdict to remove all commercial establishments from Hatirjheel lakefront project.

Rajuk says in the CMP that the rental proceeds comprise a part of the maintenance expenses of the 300-acre project area.

While discharging a writ petition, the High Court on June 30 this year had ruled that Rajuk (Rajdhani Unnayan Kortripakkha) dismantle the commercial establishments, citing that Hatirjheel is a public trust and commerce is not allowed on the land.

Rajuk was given 60-day time to carry out the HC order.

Rajuk says spaces have been leased to commercial establishments to realise the expenses the facility needs to sustain.

Officials argue if lease proceeds are not received, it will not be possible for Rajuk to meet the maintenance costs of Hatirjheel promenade as the Housing and Public Works Ministry has already told Rajuk that they would not be able to pay the maintenance cost.

“We have filed a Civil Miscellaneous Petition with the High Court. Those who have taken lease space in Hatirjheel lakefront project, they pay us money. They also had advanced us money to maintain the Hatirjheel area,” said ABM Amin Ullah Nuri, chairman of Rajuk.

He told Business Insider Bangladesh that they have plan to go for appeal against the verdict if CMP does not work. “Also, we are waiting to obtain the complete printed copy of the verdict before our next course,” he said.

The writ petition was filed in the interest of the public by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh on August 1, 2018 asking the High Court to remove illegal installations violating the original plan of Hatirjheel.

Officials concerned said the DPP had no instructions on the maintenance of the project. The maintenance cost comes around Tk 17 crore 78 lakh annually. Of this, Tk 9 crore and 8 lakh is made by the rents coming from 36 commercial establishments. The remaining Tk 8 crore 18 lakh is still a deficit.

Rajuk sent a letter to the Ministry of Housing and Public Works asking for the amount recently. But the ministry has advised Rajuk to organise it by themselves.

Project stakeholders said that under the project there are 11 special sewerage diversion structures (SSDS) and 4 mechanical screens. Some skilled people are employed here to oversee the maintenance and safety of those structures and screens.

They said if the uses of 8.8 km express road, 9.8 km service road, 4 bridges, 4 overpasses, 3 viaducts and 2 U-loops are stopped, the traffic movement in Dhaka will be disrupted.

There are about one and a half lakh trees in the project area. There are staff engaged to oversee gardens and medicinal plants across the facility.

A few food courts, car wash, children’s park, amphitheater, parking building, a circular bus service and a boat service have been leased to meet the expenses of the project, officials said.

Developing the entire site required Tk 19.71 billion over an area of 302 acres.

Of this amount, Tk 10.48 billion was spent to acquire some land under the project.