Questions Rise Over Dhaka WASA’s Plan for High-Value Gulshan Plot
A valuable piece of land in Gulshan, Dhaka, owned by Dhaka Water and Sanitation Authority (Dhaka WASA), is now under review for a private construction project. A private company wants to build a large luxury residential tower on this property. The plot covers 114 kathas on Road 55 in Gulshan-2. Its market value is estimated at around Tk 11.40 billion.
Assure Development and Design, a private real estate company, proposed this joint venture. They want to build a 19-storey residential building. The plan includes about 150 high-end apartments. Each apartment would be larger than 4,700 square feet.
Under the proposal, Dhaka WASA would own 51 percent of the project. The private company would take 49 percent. This plan has led to many questions about handing over a large government-owned plot to a private firm. People are asking why this specific company made the proposal and why it came to WASA from a ministry.
Dhaka WASA has formed a three-member committee to review the proposal. The committee will look into the land’s ownership, its current use, and the benefits and risks of the project. Dhaka WASA Managing Director Md Aminul Islam said the proposal is in its early stages. He added that WASA would ensure its interests are protected.
However, the proposal faced opposition during a recent meeting of WASA’s Performance Support Committee. One member from the Finance Division was among those who objected. This committee was formed to run WASA after its board was dissolved.
The land was allocated to Dhaka WASA by RAJUK in the 1960s. A lease agreement was signed in 2009 for 99 years. It specified the land for residential use. RAJUK Chairman Md Reazul Islam said RAJUK is not yet aware of this new proposal. He hopes the original lease conditions will be followed.
Building such large apartments also raises questions. Dhaka WASA officials typically do not qualify for apartments of 4,700 square feet. Some wonder what WASA would do with 77 such large units. An urban planning expert, Adil Mohammed Khan, said using public land for private business opportunities is concerning. He believes the reasons behind such an initiative should be investigated openly.
