DHAKA: Locals are frustrated over Rajuk’s Gazipur satellite township scheme as the capital-development agency went on touting merits of its plan in disregard of mass public protests, leaders of the protestors said.
Gazipur residents apprehend that the situation may escalate as Rajuk ran newspaper advertisements stating ‘It’s simply confusion’ and ‘So-called satellite town project’. They are reluctant to hear anything from Rajuk, as they are apprehensive lest its DAP should devour their homelands and farmlands both.
National Parliament’s land ministry-related parliamentary committee president AK Mozammel Haq told banglanews24.com.bd that they have enough evidence on paper about Rajuk’s plan to make two of the Gazipur unions and Tongi pourasava into satellite city.
The lawmaker said, “I spoke to the prime minister a day after the mass protests. The prime minister called in RAJUK chairman and demanded explanations for planning such a project. Certain group is trying to destroy Gazipur residents’ image on behalf of RAJUK and are trying to label our efforts as failure.”
Gazipur satellite township prevention committee convener and Gachha union chairman Sirajul Islam told banglanews24.com.bd over cell phone “we have not hit the streets without confirmation. We called for the protest after we received all the documents in hand on RAJUK’s township plan.”
He also deplored that RAJUK is dishing out “false” statements now that they are under heat.
The property developer for the capital proposed planning, which has been submitted to the housing and public works ministry, shows that the project is essential for accommodation of 12 lakh lower-and mid-income individuals.
A large part of flood-flow zone marked in the RAJUK proposed DAP (detailed area plan) also exists in the project area. RAJUK did not specify any rehabilitation plan for the affected ones in the area. Besides, if the project is implemented, the old residents of the area would be affected as well.
Findings reveal that RAJUK website also carries four future plans of residential projects. One of them is the Gazipur project. A detailed project planning was submitted to the housing and public works ministry last month for approval.
Consequently, Daily Manabjamin published on June 24 a detailed report headlined ‘Gazipur satellite after Purbachal’. Another detailed publication took the front page of Kaler Kantho with heading ‘Project in Gazipur by filling ditch: RAJUK faces mass protests.”
Rajuk’s proposed plan includes acquiring 4,322.067 acres of land, project area location, land size per village, nature of land etc.
On page 14, section 15.1 of the submitted project planning to the ministry highlights the project layout. Emphasis has been given on the essence of building the suburban town, advantages, disadvantages and its expansions. The proposal also mentioned the current nature of land and gazetted DAP directives.
The designed project calls for making the township with parts of Gazipur’s Bason and Gachha unions and some parts of Tongi pourasava. According to the current survey, of the 4,322.067-acre project, 52% cover agricultural land and 32% village habitations.
The project, next to Turag river, also has 2 big natural canals and 105 ponds within its area. Northeastern part of the project is shown as highland, middle part as mid-high and the west as lowland.
The RAJUK-passed detailed area plan (DAP) shows Gazipur suburb area primarily as farmland, village habitations, urban habitations and flood-flow zone. As a result, if the project is implemented, arable land will be diminished, floodwater flow interrupted and the nature of land changed as well.
The project locations are specified as Adhapasha, Bor Kolemoshhor, Bashon, Bharari Para, Bhogra, Chandpara, Chandura, Darail, Daulatpur, Gasa, Isharkandi, Islampur, Koddandul, Kolemusshori, Komorjuri, Kathora, Mohisherteck, Mudipara, Onaripara, Polashona, Shataish, Nawjury and Shonda.
Disadvantages highlighted in the proposed RAJUK plan show that valuable cultivable lands would be destroyed since most of the area is agro-based.
If flood-flow areas are not preserved in the right way, flood flow would be interrupted and would lead to water logging. That would lead to overflowing into other areas.
Advantages of the project highlighted: Dhaka-Mymensingh communications would improve and damage would be lower in number for low population in the area.
Regarding the project, a RAJUK planner, Dr Zahirul Haque, told banglanews24.com.bd that the developer did not undertake any such project. He also said that no project proposal named ‘Gazipur township’ was submitted. He referred to the signed proposal by six Rajuk officials as ‘forged’.
On July 3, RAJUK secretary Khijir Ahmed in a public circular said recently few people were spreading rumours about government land acquisition to make Gazipur and its adjacent areas into a satellite town.
The government is considering a long-term plan to build four satellite towns around Dhaka. However, the plan on where and how much land would be acquired has not been finalized yet. According to RAJUK, the decision would be taken through discussion with people and their representatives of those areas.
BDST: 1840 HRS, JULY 6, 2010
