Clients suffer as files stuck at Rajuk for months

Infographic: TBS

Earlier this year, a landowner from the capital's Gulshan area applied to the Rajuk to construct a multi-storey building. It has been more than four months since he submitted documents, but he has yet to obtain a permit as his file remains stuck. 

"I have visited the Rajuk office many times in the past four months, but was told that they could not hold any meetings [where the applications are approved]," the landowner told The Business Standard, seeking not to be named.

"Usually, it should not take more than two weeks to approve such files," said the individual.

The landowner lamented that the construction materials bought for his building are now getting damaged.

Another landowner from Uttara Sector-13 told TBS that he failed to receive any update about his submissions to the Rajuk, which was filed in January. Consequently, construction of his building remains halted. 

Like the two, many other clients as well as real estate developers and businesses are left frustrated as they are facing similar delays in obtaining Rajuk permits for their projects.

Sources within the Rajuk reveal that the delays are due to inefficiencies and internal mismanagement within the agency amid manpower crisis.

Operation challenges within the Rajuk became visible as hundreds of files were found stuck during a recent visit by this correspondent to the agency's central office.

Files were found piled up to the volume of several times higher than usual while visiting the office rooms of its three key wings— planning, estate and land, and administration and finance. 

On the condition of anonymity, a staff member of the estate and land wing told TBS that for the past two months, files have been piling up in the office room. "Hundreds of files have been piled up in various departments."

Files regarding category change for buildings and plots and plot integration are also among the backlogs.

Talking to TBS, Rajuk officials blame the backlogs mostly on frequent leadership changes and crucial posts remaining vacant.

Rajuk Chief Engineer (implementation) Md Nurul Islam told TBS that there were no board meetings over the last two months, as the five-member board had two members, creating the backlog.

However, a new member has been appointed to the estate and land wing this week, he noted, expressing optimism that the approval process of the files would be started in the next few days. "It will take some time."

Another factor behind the sluggishness within the Rajuk is the reported absence of many officials after the August 2024 ouster of the Hasina government.  

Afterwards, some officials were made OSD while some others faced job termination.

Several officials allege that regular activities of the Rajuk such as building permits faced sluggishness following the job reinstatement of former chairman Maj Gen (retd) Siddikur Rahman in September last year, three days after the cancellation of his contractual-basis appointment. 

However, the agency failed to organise any board meetings even in the past one and a half months since Engr Md Rezaul Islam took over as Rajuk's new chairman on 8 March.

Rajuk Chief Engineer (projects and design) Md Mobarak Hossen told TBS the complications arose as the ministry concerned did not take prompt measures regarding appointments. 

However, of the three board members, one official is currently on a two-month leave for training. The official, however, was granted permission to perform his duties after regular office hours.

As such, the meetings need to be called outside office hours, which clients and urban experts fear will hinder the expected progress.

Meanwhile, urban planners and business leaders warned that the stagnation could worsen Dhaka's already chaotic urbanisation. 

"Rajuk's inefficiency is pushing developers toward illegal constructions, as legal approvals take too long," said a representative from the Real Estate & Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB).

In addition, experts demand immediate reforms to Rajuk to restore public trust and ensure timely service delivery.

Talking to TBS, Rajuk Chairman Engr Md Reazul Islam acknowledged the challenges. 

"Given the appointment of one official made by the ministry, now it will be possible to organise meetings, mitigating the pressure of backlogged files." 

He said he has been exerting pressure on the ministry since joining as chairman to enhance Rajuk's manpower, especially in the wings with vacancies.