JS panel for engaging army in construction work

A Jatiya Sangsad (JS) panel has recommended engaging the army in constructing a number of government buildings in Dhaka city. That has fuelled criticism that Bangladesh’s armed forces were turning ‘corporate’. A big difference of amounts quoted money by two government bodies led to the suggestion of involving the army at Thursday’s meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Housing and Public Works. Committee chief Dabirul Islam said RAJUK, the urban planners, and Public Works Department (PWD) had divided the work between themselves. But RAJUK’s proposal costs around 2 per cent more than that of PWD. ‘It will cost the government about Tk 200 million more [if RAJUK and PWD's proposals are accepted],’ he said. RAJUK initially tasked Ena Properties, owned by MP Enamul Haque, to construct 61 buildings for Uttara Flat Project. State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid Bipu's Hamid Real Estate got the work to construct 16 other buildings. The capital's development authority cancelled its agreement later. RAJUK then divided the construction tasks with PWD. But Thursday's suggestion came at a time when many are objecting to engaging the armed forces in works other than defence. National Human Rights Commission Chairman Mizanur Rahman on Dec 4 said it was logical to stick to the primary role that the army is trained for. The army has already been tasked with the Hatirjheel project and also for construction of flyovers in Dhaka, according to bdnews24.com.