It took almost 18 years for the Khulna Development Authority (KDA) to begin a new residential project in the city. When the KDA announced it in 2010, many buyers with limited income were thought they would be able to finally own a house. However, the high price and quota system have shattered their dreams.
According to the KDA officials, the Ministry of Housing and Public Works approved the guidelines of selling the plots on May 13. Once the land acquisition procedure is completed, a total of 700 plots will be up for sale.
A 3-katha plot is priced at Tk27 lakh while a 5-katha plot will be sold for Tk47.50 lakh. A potential buyer will have to participate in the lottery by depositing Tk1.5 lakh and Tk2.5 lakh and if selected will have to pay at least 40% of the total price to secure the plot.
The KDA officials also said all the plots would be sold on a quota basis.
Sheikh Ashrafuzzaman, President of Greater Khulna Development Action Coordination Committee, said: “The residential project was supposed to be for the limited income group. But the KDA officials did not keep their words. It is not possible for the middle class families to buy such expensive plots.”
He also alleged that the KDA officials were only attracting rich buyers and did not consider the average Khulna residents. “People have been highly discouraged and lost interest to buy the plots,” he added.
The new project to be built on 36 hectare land in Dumuria and Batiaghata upazila was initially named Ahsanabad Residential Area. Later it was changed to Moyuri Residential Area and was approved by the ECNEC on November 14, 2013.
With 280 3-katha and 420 5-katha plots, the estimated cost of the project was Tk125 crore when it was conceived in 2010. However, with time the cost has risen up to Tk265 crore. After the draft project proposal was approved by the ministry on April 30, KDA handed over Tk185 crore to the district authorities to acquire the land.
According to the guidelines booklet, which is selling at Tk2,000, a perspective buyer would have to take part in the lottery by depositing Tk50,000 for each katha. A successful applicant will then pay 40% of the whole amount within a month and wait for the quota system for allocation.
Of the total plots, 20% is reserved for government officials, 8% for semi-government and autonomous organisations, 8% for private job holders, 6% for non-resident Bangladeshis, 5% for freedom fighters, 7% for businessmen and other professionals, 5% for retired government officials, 10% for housing ministry, KDA officials and board members, 6% for affected residents, 3% for special professionals such as artistes and journalists, 2% for parliament members and 15% of the plots is reserved for special category.
Project Director Kazi Sabirul Alam said the plot quota and prices had been fixed considering the current market and realities.
Mostafa Kamal, deputy commissioner of Khulna, said the land needed for the project would be given to the KDA very soon and they would be able to start selling the projects.
When contacted, KDA Chairman Brigadier General Shamsul Alam Khan said: “We had to raise the price since the land prices have also gone up. The current price for each katha in that area is Tk14 lakh. But we are offering each katha for only Tk9 lakh, which cheaper than the market price.”
He further added that the call for applications would be published as soon as the land acquisition process was completed.
