Rajuk repairs chairman’s bungalow without tender, costs surge eightfold

In the capital's posh neighbourhoods such as Gulshan, the construction of a two-storey bungalow spanning 2,500 square feet generally incurs expenses between Tk1.5 crore and Tk2 crore.

However, repairs to the same-sized government bungalow of the Rajuk chairman in Gulshan have surpassed this amount. With 80% of the work done, Rajuk has meanwhile prepared a hefty estimate of Tk2.85 crore and is awaiting approval.

Rajuk started the work in January and prepared an evaluation summary of the tender process with the bill last week.

Though the cost was initially estimated at Tk30.9 lakh, it later saw an eight-fold increase.  Moreover, the work is being conducted without any tendering process.

Contacted, Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) President Adil Mohammed Khan told TBS that the expenditure of Tk2.85 crore for repairs is impractical, whereas the expense of constructing a new bungalow is capped at Tk2 crore.

"At a time when the government is implementing austerity measures, such an exorbitant repair bill is highly undesirable. This is a clear robbery," he said, adding that action should be taken against Rajuk officials involved in the work.

Echoing the same, a member of the Real Estate & Housing Association of Bangladesh said a new bungalow of the same size as the Rajuk chairman's one costs Tk1.5 crore for construction. Then there are the incidentals that are spent. 

"All in all, a complete bungalow could be built for Tk2.5 crore."

Sources from the Rajuk said on 5 April, Maj Gen (retd) Siddiqur Rahman Sarkar was appointed as Rajuk chairman for two years on a contractual basis. After he joined, Rajuk's engineers visited the bungalow and made an estimate of Tk30 lakh for various renovations of the residence. 

The renovations include the removal of the 2,500sq feet two-storey building's water roof, damp proofing and water treatment, demolition of the roof and walls of the garret, plastering and painting of the building, replacement of door frames, shutters, window trays and grills. 

However, on 17 April, the engineering team of the project titled "Urban Resilience Project: Rajuk Part" visited the building and marked it as risky. They recommended demolishing the building and constructing a new one.

In view of the recommendation, Rajuk executive engineer (Implementation-4) along with higher authorities wrote to the Rajuk chairman to prepare the architectural design of a new building in his bungalow compound.

On 9 May, Rajuk formed 13 committees, appointing its Chief City Architect Mostak Ahmed as convener, to plan, design and implement 13 projects, including the chairman's bungalow.

The committee held a meeting on 15 May and recommended repairing the bungalow and asked for a design and drawing. It has also asked for expeditious preparation of estimates and approval from the authorities and to complete the work floating a tender.

Disregarding the recommendations from the committee, upon verbal approval from its Convener Mostak Ahmed and Member Secretary Rahat Muslemin, contractor firm National Development Engineers Ltd started repairing the bungalow.

As the renovation of the bungalow was not done according to the rules, on 6 June, Rajuk's Executive Engineer (Implementation-4) Mohammad Kaushar wrote to Rajuk chairman asking for the written instructions for the ongoing work on the bungalow, the detailed plan of the work and the approved copy of the design.

The chairman then allegedly exerted pressure on the executive engineer to withdraw the letter. The executive engineer withdrew the letter on 9 June.

However, the estimates have yet to get approval from Rajuk.

Contacted, Rajuk Executive Engineer Mohammad Kaushar declined to comment on the matter.

Contractor company National Development Engineers Ltd said they are just executing the works assigned to them. However, the higher authority can provide information regarding the work order or tender associated with the project.

Rajuk's Chief Town Planner (ongoing charge) Md Ashraful Islam told TBS that he was not aware regarding the procedure that was carried out in the renovation of the bungalow.

"Given that the work is conducted under the engineering department of Rajuk, the chief engineer is able to offer insights about the project," he said.

Contacted, Rajuk Chief Engineer (Implementation) Abdul Latif Helaly confronted this correspondent over questions regarding details of the project, and termed the information regarding the hefty estimates and absence of tender as false.