The Crime Desk: Chittagong City Corporation’s (CCC) beautification project and land allotment have been accused of irregularities for a long time. The company’s internal investigation also confirmed its truth. There are allegations of opacity in the allocation and management of stores in various markets owned by the company. Lack of specific policies and laws creates opportunities for opacity in this regard.
However, after 161 years of the establishment of the corporation, the path of these irregularities is being closed. Because there are three by-laws for the organization along with the beautification policy. CCC’s proposed by-laws have been finalized by a committee formed by the Ministry of Local Government last Thursday after checking for almost two years. The Ministry will give the final approval very soon. The by-laws are ‘Chittagong City Corporation Beautification Policy, 2022′, Chittagong City Corporation Market Bye-law, 2022’, and ‘Chittagong City Corporation Special Agreement (Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer—BOOT) Rules, 2022’. Among these, the beautification policy is the first such policy among the city corporations in the country.
CCC sources said that to ensure transparency, Chasik Mayor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury took the initiative to enact by-laws. After the drafting of the by-laws, they were sent to the Ministry of Local Government for approval in the 10th general meeting of the current council of Chasik. After that, the ministry formed a committee to verify it. The committee finalized it on Thursday.
City Mayor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury told the media that the rules and by-laws were very necessary for the corporation. These should have been formulated much earlier. After I took the initiative, the ministry also took it seriously. He said that if there is a policy, then the beautification project cannot be happy and will come within the rules. The mayor expressed hope that new dimensions will be added to the beautification of the city by following and implementing the policies properly. He said that the market by-law is also relevant. The process of allotting shops in Chasik’s markets will be orderly by following the established policy. Special contract rules will also be more beneficial for corporations.
Meanwhile, Chasic Chief Executive Officer Sheikh Muhammad Touhidul Islam was present at the Scrutiny Committee meeting held at the Ministry of Local Government last Thursday. Confirming the finalization, he told the media that if the by-laws come into force, the work of the corporation will become much easier. For example, some income-generating activities, including beautification, are currently done through circulars on their own initiative without any law. If there is a valid framework, we can take on many more income-generating projects. A corporation has many vacant sites where multi-storage buildings can be built in partnership with someone. Income can be shared with any organization. A partner can also be taken for beautification.
Beautification Policy: There are 23 clauses in the Beautification Policy. Areas of Project Undertaking in the light of these Articles, Project Allocation Procedure, Beautification Committee, Project Application Process, Project Approval Considerations, Project Scrutiny Approval, Project Duration, Salami-Rent and Lease Rate Council, Approval of Draft Agreement, Renewal of Lease Agreement, and Lease Responsibilities of Town Planning Branch have been clarified in matters related to termination of contract, termination of contract before expiry, compliance with applicable laws and regulations, transfer or sub-lease of interest in leased land, and beautification.
It is said about the purpose of this policy that the first main objective of the beautification project of the city corporation will be to make the city an aesthetic and green city by increasing the beauty of the city. Besides, to establish the absolute possession of the corporation over the roads and buildings, including the vacant land owned by the corporation,.
In light of the policy, beautification projects will be scrutinized before approval. In this case, there will be a committee headed by the Chief Executive Officer. After the verification, they will present the project to the mayor for approval. The beautification project can be allocated for a maximum of five years if it is profitable and for a maximum of three years if it is unprofitable.
According to Chasik sources, Chasik made 42 contracts for beautification in the city from December 28, 2016 to February 10, 2020. Besides, permission and allotment of 10 spaces from December 2020 to January 28 in exchange for salami and monthly rent. Apart from this, the organization has allotted sidewalks in the name of beautification at various times. In this regard, no document has been opened by the Estate (Land) Branch in connection with the execution of the beautification agreement. Although the contract is executed through the city planning department, no resolution has been reserved for the organization to assign administrative responsibility to them. Again, there is a complaint about not giving a fair price in terms of allotment of space.
Market Bye-law : The Market Bye-law has 29 articles. Policy The bye-law is enacted by the government under the powers conferred by Section 122 of the Local Government (City Corporations) Act, 2009.
