Habiganj's 132-Plot Lottery Still Not Held After Eight Months — and Now Fresh Applications Are Planned, Angering Applicants

In hope of a government plot, 696 applicants in Habiganj have been waiting for eight months, some having deposited Tk 150,000 and others Tk 200,000 as security money. But the lottery to allocate the 132 plots has still not been held. Now the National Housing Authority has begun preparations to invite a fresh round of applications — deepening the uncertainty of those already waiting.

According to Housing Authority sources, the 'Site and Services Residential Plot Development Project' for low- and middle-income people was taken up in 2016 in the Dhuliakhal area on the outskirts of Habiganj town, under the authority's Sylhet Division office. The project's DPP (Development Project Proposal) was approved in 2017.

The project cost was estimated at Tk 27.41 crore. About 16.5 acres of land have already been acquired and earth-filling for land development has been completed. In other words, much of the field work has advanced — only the allocation lottery is stuck.

Against the project's 132 residential plots, 696 applications were submitted — more than five applications for every plot. Applications were invited through advertisements in national dailies at the start of this year. For the 132 plots, ranging from 2.5 to 5 katha and above, about 1,100 application forms priced at Tk 1,000 were sold; the deadline for submission was the second week of last February.

By the deadline, 696 applications were submitted with security deposits — Tk 200,000 for plots of four katha and above, and Tk 150,000 for plots below four katha. According to officials, the deposits held in favour of the National Housing Authority chairman total roughly Tk 5 crore.

The project prospectus says the estimated price will be Tk 513,000 per katha, subject to slight variation. Allottees can pay in instalments or in a lump sum. Those who do not receive a plot will have their deposit refunded. Allottees must build a house according to the approved design within five years of the allocation letter; otherwise the allocation will be cancelled, five percent of the deposited money forfeited, and the rest refunded.

Housing Authority sources say the lottery process had in fact begun once. But GK Gaus, the MP for Habiganj-3 (Sadar) and a whip, wants fresh applications to be invited. He requested the housing and public works minister accordingly. The lottery was then suspended, and preparations are under way to publish a new application notice soon.

MP GK Gaus said by phone: 'The applications were submitted during the interim government's time. Many people did not know about this application process. That is why I think inviting fresh applications will increase people's opportunity to participate. I want more applications to be submitted. But what matters is whether the plots are allocated impartially, through a lottery — it is everyone's responsibility to watch that.'

Nezamul Haque Mazumdar, executive engineer (civil) of the National Housing Authority's Sylhet Division, said the ministry had decided to invite fresh applications at the local MP's request, and that the earlier applications and the new ones would together go into the lottery for allocation. Asked why such a decision came suddenly, he said: 'I tried to make sure people are not harmed. But the process of inviting applications again is proceeding under the ministry's orders.'

Plot seekers have expressed anger at the move to invite fresh applications. They say they applied and deposited money following government rules, and that breaking the rules to invite more applications at the very moment of allocation means looking for room for corruption. They also allege that inviting new applications eight months after the process was taken up under the interim government means creating scope for allocation under political influence.

Habiganj town businessman Kamal Ahmed said: 'Creating an opportunity to apply again after so many applications have already been submitted only means bringing party leaders and activists into this process and dividing the plots among themselves. The hope with which we applied — an opportunity for irregularity and corruption is being created in place of that dream.'

Md Habibur Rahman, an employee of a private bank, has also applied for a plot. He said: 'I am a man of limited income. I applied in the hope of getting this government plot. Many people like me applied with many dreams. Five to six applications have been submitted against each plot. If fresh applications still had to be invited, why this decision after eight months?'

Mizbahul Bari, general secretary of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SUJAN) in Habiganj district, said low- and middle-income people had deposited the money from their last savings. With it lying with the authorities for a long time, many feel helpless. If still more applications are invited in the name of revenue, or there are further delays, people will be harmed more, he said — adding that the authorities should allocate the plots from the applications already submitted.

All told, on a project where the earth-filling is finished, one question now dominates: when will the lottery be held, and will it include only the 696 people who have waited eight months, or the new applicants as well? Although preparations for a fresh notice are proceeding on the ministry's decision, the authorities have yet to announce any definite timetable to end the old applicants' anger and uncertainty.