Bangladesh, Wednesday, December 5, 2007

The caretaker government yesterday cancelled the allotments of NAM apartments to 108 former members of the parliament (MP), who are either convicted or accused or under trial for corruption, or who have failed to submit their wealth statements.

The authority of allotting the apartments was also transferred from the parliament to the government until further notice, while the government fixed new rents for the apartments, which will be retroactively effective from March 1 of this year.

Upon payment of the new rents, eligible former MPs will need to re-apply to the housing department for allotments of the apartments, while the Parliament Secretariat will take steps for implementing the new rents.

Housing and Public Works Adviser Mainul Hosein approved the proposal yesterday, and told reporters afterward that the decision was taken in consultation with the speaker of the parliament in light of the changed circumstances.

He added that the former MPs who accept the government fixed rents may remain in their NAM flats, if they are neither accused, charged nor under trial for corruption.

Mainul also said government officials may also rent the apartments if they are prepared to pay the stipulated rents.

The 13 multistoried NAM flats were allotted to 324 MPs of the last parliament, which are fully furnished with air-conditioners, TVs, refrigerators, beds, wardrobes, mattresses, chairs, and tables. The facilities are afforded with the taxpayers’ money.

According to the new rates of rents fixed by the housing department, 1,800 sq ft apartments are now Tk 25,000 a month instead of the previous rent of Tk 800, and 1,260 sq ft apartments are now Tk 20,000 a month instead of Tk 400.

The new rents were fixed by a committee that had been formed in July. The committee, headed by Additional Secretary to the Parliament Secretariat ABM Nuruzzaman submitted a report on the apartments last week to the Ministry of Housing and Public Works.

Sources said, the committee also decided to take legal action against those MPs, who will refuse to pay the government stipulated rents. An additional order from the Parliament Secretariat will put the changes into effect.

The Daily Star