Motia terms land-grabbers educated criminals
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
FE Report
Agriculture Minister Begum Motia Chowdhury Tuesday called land grabbers 'educated criminals' and criticised their so-called activities against corruption and crimes.
"There are some selfish, educated criminals who commit crimes like land grabbing and then speak in the media against crimes," she said at a ceremony marking the launch of a flood-proof low-cost housing project.
The launching ceremony of the `Low-Income Flood-proof Technology (LIFT) pilot project was held at the Housing and Building Research Institute.
She said, "It's a bizarre situation in our society that we commit crimes and then deliver sermons at meetings and rallies against crimes."
Motia, who has a background of left-leaning politics and is respected for her honesty, said, "After delivering sermons, they pose before cameras and their photos are published in newspapers the next day. This is our reality."
The minister said huge lands in the city including at Hatirjheel were grabbed and the government was recovering those.
She said illegal constructions after filling of low-lying areas of Dhaka city indiscriminately alarmed the city-dwellers. "There is no arrangement to drain out water and there is no planning also. So the Dhaka city experiences waterlogging and is often submerged even without any flood, " she added.
State Minister for Public Works and Housing Abdul Mannan Khan urged the real estate developers to construct houses, not merely for the upper and middle-income groups of people, but also for the hard-pressed low-income group.
Addressing the function as the chief guest, Finance Minister AMA Muhith suggested construction of "low-cost safe houses for the poor," saying that those living in flood-prone areas should get houses compatible with flooding.
Agriculture Minister Begum Motia Chowdhury Tuesday called land grabbers 'educated criminals' and criticised their so-called activities against corruption and crimes.
"There are some selfish, educated criminals who commit crimes like land grabbing and then speak in the media against crimes," she said at a ceremony marking the launch of a flood-proof low-cost housing project.
The launching ceremony of the `Low-Income Flood-proof Technology (LIFT) pilot project was held at the Housing and Building Research Institute.
She said, "It's a bizarre situation in our society that we commit crimes and then deliver sermons at meetings and rallies against crimes."
Motia, who has a background of left-leaning politics and is respected for her honesty, said, "After delivering sermons, they pose before cameras and their photos are published in newspapers the next day. This is our reality."
The minister said huge lands in the city including at Hatirjheel were grabbed and the government was recovering those.
She said illegal constructions after filling of low-lying areas of Dhaka city indiscriminately alarmed the city-dwellers. "There is no arrangement to drain out water and there is no planning also. So the Dhaka city experiences waterlogging and is often submerged even without any flood, " she added.
State Minister for Public Works and Housing Abdul Mannan Khan urged the real estate developers to construct houses, not merely for the upper and middle-income groups of people, but also for the hard-pressed low-income group.
Addressing the function as the chief guest, Finance Minister AMA Muhith suggested construction of "low-cost safe houses for the poor," saying that those living in flood-prone areas should get houses compatible with flooding.