Construction of a multi-storey commercial complex named Bibartan at the new bus terminal in Tangail remains unfinished even after ten long years. The project, initiated by the Tangail District Council, began after demolishing the old raw market at the site. Although the construction period was supposed to end in April 2018, work continues well beyond the deadline, leaving shop owners frustrated and awaiting handover.
According to the original work order, construction began on 1 April 2015, with the project scheduled for completion by 7 April 2018. However, shop allocations began as early as 2013. The building, designed as a ten-storey structure on 60 decimals of land beside Sonia Nursing Home Building-1, is currently constructed up to six floors. Out of 424 planned shop spaces, 262 have already been allocated, priced from Tk 8,000 per square foot depending on the location.
One of the allottees, Sheikh Farid, a professor at Nagarpur Janata Degree College, said his shop—number 32 on the ground floor—cost him Tk 7.2 lakh. “We were promised high-quality shops and a profitable business environment,” he said. “But even after three to four times the stipulated time, no handover has taken place. Our investments are stuck without any return. Mismanagement and negligence have crushed the dreams of hundreds of buyers.” He urged the authorities to hand over the shops as soon as possible.
Another allottee, Madan Mohan Shil Mukti, who holds shop number 358 on the second floor, complained that the shop’s actual size was smaller than promised. “According to the design, my shop should be 95 square feet, but on-site measurement shows it is only 80 square feet,” he alleged.
Many former tenants of the old Tangail Bus Terminal Super Market have also voiced grievances. Among them, Sohel Sikdar, son of Shafiqul Islam—former owner of shop number 16—claimed that their shop was demolished without prior notice, despite regular rent payments and a non-refundable security deposit. “My father followed all official procedures, yet our shop was taken away without any alternative arrangement,” he said. “We demand that those who had shops earlier be given new ones in the Biborton complex.”
Responding to the allegations, Tangail District Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Shamsun Nahar Swapna, explained that the delay was due to several factors. “Removing the old structures and utility lines, such as electricity and gas connections, took longer than expected. Additionally, shop allottees failed to deposit their payments on time, and the COVID-19 pandemic caused further interruptions,” she said.
However, she assured that progress has now accelerated and that “three floors of the building are expected to be handed over within the next three months.” Regarding the claims of previous shop owners, she added, “We have not yet received any official documents proving their entitlement. If valid papers are presented, we will verify and take appropriate action.”
