DHAKA: Netang, one of attractive seafront motels of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation located on the bay beach at Teknaf, seems to have lost its past glory for a shabby run on lease.

Lessee Ms North-South Property Development Limited (NSPDL) operates the motel at a panoramic resort site, surrounded by hills and the Naf River, “in breach of terms of agreement and motel regulations” as regards quality of the hospitality service, said sources.

On 31 July, Abu Taher, local unit manager of the state-owned BPC, wrote to the Chairman of the corporation mentioning irregularities of NSPDL and seeking intervention of the top administrator for a remedy.

The motel building and furnishings faded for a lack of maintenance, sources said. “Two deep freezes have gone off totally and BPC signboard lies grounded,” says an eyewitness account of the debacle.

NSPDL is operating the tourist resort with BPC`s antiquated cookeries and cutleries.

Dissatisfied with the services, tourists blame the BPC although it is not run by the Corporation.

Jamal Abdun Naser, Acting Chairman and Director (finance) of the Parjatan Corporation, told banglanews24.com.bd, “Ultimately it is tarnishing BPC`s image.”

Even the BPC employees are not getting TA/DA, service charge, dress, overtime payments as per the agreement with NSPDL. They are not paying tax, vat and land tax, too, he added.

Other BPC sources said Netang earned a profit of Tk 3 lakh in 2005-06 fiscal. In 2006-07 it rose to Tk 17 lakh, but the following fiscal it incurred a loss.

The then caretaker government, without any investigation, leased out Netang for 15 years on 21 August 2008 for Tk 13 lakh.

"The government has incurred loss sine last caretaker regime’s time. The motel needs proper management,`` said Jamal Abdun Naser.

An officer of Parjatan, requesting anonymity, said, if it could be operated properly, profit would double in a year.

Rezaul Haque, acting Manager (Officer of NSPDL) of Netang, declined to comment in this regard when contacted.

BDST 1446 August 5, 2010