Construction work of the much talked about Khulna Trade Centre is going on a slow pace due to some complications between Khulna City Corporation (KCC) and Khulna Zilla Parishad.
The lack of coordination and the issue of ownership have led to this stagnant position. Despite several attempts, the issues could not be resolved yet.
Under this circumstances, the Local Government Ministry on March 4 handed over the responsibilities to Khulna Local Government Engineering Department (LGED).
According to Zilla Parishad sources, the initiative to build a 20-storey commercial building in Khulna was taken jointly by Khulna Zilla Parishad and Khulna City Corporation in 2012. The Tk100 crore building was decided to be built at Dakbanglo Mor, the busiest part of the city. A contractor was also appointed subsequently to build the first phase – first six floors – for a cost of Tk49 crore, out of which Tk2 crore was allocated by Zilla Parishad.
However, while Khulna Development Authority was designing the building, the city corporation demanded ownership of a part of the land. And in the meantime, Khulna Chamber of Commerce demanded priority shop allotment to the businessmen affected by the construction.
In the follow up meetings, a list of 55 affected businessmen was prepared but the authorities could not reach to a consensus regarding the list.
On May 4, 2014 a committee, with representatives from all the concerned stakeholders, was formed to resolve the issues. The meeting chaired by an additional secretary also failed to reach to any decision regarding the modification of the memorandum of understanding.
Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Parishad, Howlader Rafiqul Bari, said: “The LGED has decided to implement the project since Zilla Parishad and KCC failed to agree.”
With that end, a new committee was formed on October 15, 2014. Khulna LGED director was made the project director, two representatives from Zilla Parishad and KCC were appointed as deputy project directors and Khulna deputy commissioner was given the job of an adviser.
This committee has already been approved by the ministry. The project director has been given all financial and administrative power.
When contacted KCC official Mohammad Abdul Hannan Biswas said a satisfactory situation had not been created but the hurdles were addressed and the project was on its way to implementation.
General Secretary of Dakbanglo Shop Owners Association, Moniruzzaman Khan, said 72 traders had been doing business on that land since 1952. But the decision of building the trade centre had affected them and that is why they demanded adequate rehabilitation.