More than 6,000 abandoned houses in Dhaka city: Housing minister

There are more than 6,000 abandoned houses in Dhaka city, said Housing and Public Works Minister RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury in Parliament on Wednesday.

“There are 6,372 abandoned houses in the capital city,” he said, replying to a question from independent lawmaker Muhammad Saiful Islam (Dhaka-19).

According to data placed by the minister in the House, the highest number of abandoned houses is 3,582 in Mirpur.

Other abandoned houses include 1,542 in Mohammadpur, 128 in Gulshan, 9 in Banani, 62 in Moghbazar, 36 in Tejgaon, 19 in Nakhalpara, 26 in Cantonment, 38 in Basabo, 10 in Shahjahanpur, 12 in Khilgaon, 2 in Jurain, 72 in Motijheel, 158 in Ramna, 320 in Sutrapur, 174 in Lalbagh, 46 in Kotwali, 88 in Dhanmondi, 25 in Lalmatia, 4 in Jatrabari, and 1 in Maniknagar.

Among the abandoned houses, 20 are now being used as educational institutes and four as construction firms.

The minister said the reserved abandoned houses are being used for the construction of residential flats for officers/employees and the flats are being allocated to the officers/employees on a rental basis.

The saleable abandoned houses are being sold to various individuals, institutions, the families of martyr freedom fighters, war-wounded freedom fighters, and allottees with the permission of the Prime Minister.

In the last three financial years, some Tk 126.8 million was realised as rents from the abandoned houses in Dhaka city, while some Tk 23.1 million was collected as the sale values.

At the beginning of the day’s business, Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, who was chairing the House, tabled the question-answer session for Wednesday.