Reforming Rajuk

---

A recent report revealed that only two to three of the housing companies have the approval of Rajdhani Unnayan Katripakkha (Rajuk). The rest, the number of which is not less than 300, have been doing businesses illegally. They have so far managed their operation by bribing the Rajuk officials and employees.
The taskforce, while investigating corruption and irregularities in Rajuk, discovered this after about a month's investigation. It said the majority of Rajuk officials and employees, from a sweeper to a director, have been involved in widespread corruption. They all have Rajuk plots in the capital or on its outskirts. They possess these properties either in their own names or in their relatives' names, on many occasions by manipulating documents.
Hardly anyone would contradict the disclosure of the task force. We all are aware that not a single building was constructed strictly following the building codes. But what we did not know is the level of irregularities in Rajuk. This practice has been maintained by giving and taking bribes. So the developers as well as the Rajuk officials and employees are equally responsible in creating this environment. They are to blame for making the Dhaka city unliveable and making Rajuk a hotbed of corruption.
Now, the Rajuk has taken fresh initiatives to recover the lands and plots grabbed by unauthorised persons. It has been trying to bring discipline in the housing sector. But without reforming the people within Rajuk, how could it be possible to bring discipline in this sector? As they are equally responsible for creating this situation, they will try to break discipline and indulge in corruption again whenever opportunity comes.

Rasheed Ahmed
Shahidbagh, Dhaka