Rivals close ranks over pvt university land

CHITTAGONG, May 27: Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) mayor and the former mayor have clarified their positions over construction of the Premier University campus on a 'disputed land' on the port city's OR Nizam Road.
They organised a press conference Tuesday under the banner of Premier University on the occasion of launching the construction of the institution's campus at the site. The area of the land is 124 decimal or 62 gandas.
Mayor of Chittagong City Corporation M Manjur Alam, also a BNP leader, is chairman of the university's trustee board, and former mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, leader of ruling Awami League, is a member of the board.
Vice Chancellor of Premier University and noted social scientist Professor Anupam Sen, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Chittagong University Professor Ifthikhar Uddin Chowdhury, Registrar of Premier University Dr. Abu Taher, councillor of the CCC Niaz Mohammed Khan and executive engineers of CCC Abu Saleh and Kamrul Islam were present on the occasion.
Mayor Manjur claimed that the City Corporation had purchased the land through following all legal procedures and had paid Tk 4.5 million as advance to the owner of the plot. Later, the CCC has made the full payment of the entire plot at the rate of Tk 0.5 million per ganda.
"We have got the land by dint of its ownership and, accordingly, have started construction of the Premier University campus on the land. It's not a property of any individual, but the property of the university," he said at the press conference.
"With due permission of the authorities and in coordination with all concerned, we are constructing the campus on steel structure at the cost of Tk 8.5 million," he said adding he wanted cooperation of all for the university.
Former city mayor Mohiuddin Chowdhury said vested quarters were opposing the construction of the highest seat of learning "driven by ill motive". "From my long working experience, I can say that vested interests always oppose when you go for any good work. They are opposing our good work for the sake of opposing only," he said.
"We reached an agreement (bayna) for Tk 4.5 million with the owner, and later we have paid up all their dues at Tk 0.5 million per ganda. Initially, we will make a tin-shed structure on the plot," he added.
Professor Anupam Sen said currently 10 thousand students were studying at Premier University. "Once this campus is constructed, we will have the enrolment of another 10 thousand."
A dozen of workers were seen doing the filling work on the plot, while the authorities concerned arranged lunch for all those who attended the function. A good number of students and City Corporation staff attended it.
In the beginning of this May, two parties through separate press conferences claimed they owned parts of the land, but Chittagong City Corporation has illegally grabbed their land in the name of Premier University.