Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) today announced the name of 1,077 plot winners in four categories in Purbachal New Town Project. Rajuk allotted the plots to its winners through lottery in three categories—freedom fighters, artist/cultural personality/sportsperson and Bangladeshi expatriate while 14 plots were allotted to judges directly (one seven-and-a-half-katha plot and 13 ten-katha ones).

State Minister for Housing and Public Works Abdul Mannan Khan formally inaugurated the draw at Osmani Memorial Hall. Some 2,536 freedom fighters applied for plots. Of them, 713 applications were declared invalid for failing to fill in the forms in proper manner and 296 plots were allotted. Of the plots, 16 are ten-katha plots, 36 seven-and-a-half-katha plots and 134 five-katha plots and 110 three-katha plots.

Under the artist/culture/sportsperson category 313 applications were submitted and 176 plots were allotted, of which nine were 10-katha plots, 21 were seven-and-a-half-katha plots, 80 were five-katha plots, 80 were five-katha and 66 three-katha. The number of cancelled applications in this category is 74.

For expatriate Bangladeshis categories 591 plots were allotted against 22,673 applicants, of which 32 were 10-katha plots, 72 seven-and-a-half-katha, 267 were five-katha and 220 three-katha. A total of 1513 applications were cancelled during the scrutiny. Professor Masroor Ali of Buet, which has been working to scrutiny the applications along with his team, conducted the lottery.

Abdul Mannan said the lottery has been done in the utmost transparent manner, unlike the previous years. "I can throw a challenge to all of you to find out irregularities in the lottery process. I would give award to the person who would be able to find irregularities," he said adding, "Neither I nor any of my relatives even applied for the plots."

In response to a question from the audience, Mannan Khan said, the lottery of the rest of the categories will be held soon in two phases as soon as Buet would complete the process. Referring to the demand of the audience for giving them back the deposited money, Khan said they have already talked to the banks. "We are trying to give the deposited money as early as possible. A cell will be formed in the Rajuk so that the process of returning fund is completed smoothly," he said. He however could not give any deadline for returning the deposited money.

Chairman in-charge of Rajuk Golam Kibria said the unsuccessful applicants could apply for withdrawing the money soon after the Eid-ul-Fitr. Only 6000 of the 17,500 residential plots under the Purbachal project are available after the past government had allotted over 11,000 plots. Rajuk invited applications for Uttara third phase and Purbachal project in November last year and 1.65 lakh applicants submitted applications.

-Daily star