Md. Ashraf Hossain
Having a home is a dream as well as basic right of every citizen. But owning a piece of land or a flat in the capital Dhaka is impossible for majority of the city dwellers. The cost of such land or flat is so high that most fixed-income people cannot afford them.
The democratically elected government should take pragmatic steps to meet the housing needs of this large section of the city's population. Bangladesh is an over-populated country and agriculture land is precious for growing food for the people.
Keeping these factors in mind, Lauhajang and Srinagar upazilas of Munshiganj district should be developed as a satellite town of Dhaka to facilitate the growing housing needs of the city's limited-income people. Both the upazilas are situated by the mighty river Padma, where one end of the planned Padma Bridge is located.
Most of the land of the two upazilas remain submerged under water half of the year. People can grow only one crop on the land annually. People build their houses on earthen mounds in these low-lying areas. In the rainy season, they usually move by boats from one place to other.
The two upazilas are located about 25 kilometres away from the Zero Point of Dhaka city. The distance is a little more than that of the Uttara or Mirpur areas of the city. The height of the land could be increased up to the level of the Dhaka-Khulna Highway by filling silt of the river Padma that would be generated to control the river for safety of the planned bridge.
The low valued land of the two upazilas could be converted into a satellite town that would facilitate the housing needs of millions of people and reduce the ever increasing pressure on the capital city. On the other hand, production of crop would be less effected as the existing low land is single-cropped. Part of the Dhaka-Khulna highway, that is, Dhaka to Mawa, would be widened owing to the Padma Bridge. As a by product, it would facilitate easy road communication between Dhaka and the proposed satellite town without additional investments. People would be able to work in the capital and live in satellite town.
The Housing and Settlement Directorate may be assigned to implement this programme as Rajuk is overburdened with its present responsibility. Plots in the proposed satellite town are to be leased out to three categories of people: the affected land owners of the satellite town area; affected land owners in Dhaka; and the general public, particularly those with limited incomes. No quota like, judge, freedom fighter, MP, government official, autonomous body officials, non-resident Bangladeshi, artist, journalist, lawyer or professional should be there. Allottees should be selected by lottery if the number of applicants exceeds the number of plots.
Provision should be made to deposit half of the estimated price of the plot along with application to eliminate applicants who apply only to sell the plot if allotted. The public should be informed well ahead of time, details of allotment of plot so that genuine applicants can make adequate arrangements.
Applications should be received after one month from last date of selling application form. Another one month should be given for receiving the filled in applications forms. The time schedule should not be changed other than for force majeure. The housing ministry should not participate or interfere with the allocation of plots. Only in cases of complaints, the ministry should investigate and advice for disciplinary action if allegation appears true or misconduct is detected.
When a satellite town would be developed converting the Lauhajang and Srinagar upazilas, land could be leased out to general people at a relatively low price. A good number of people of low-income groups would be able to build their dream home there and a basic right of a portion of people could be ensured.
(The writer lives in Srinagar, Munshiganj and can be reached at e-mail: mah120cb@yahoo.com)
http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=134848&date=2011-05-07
