Authorities of Rajshahi City Corporation have allegedly leased out a Passenger Shed at Luxmipur area of the city to a ruling party leader and the leaseholder has set up a blazer shop there. However, local people have reacted adversely in the incident of such leasing.
It is learnt, the lease receipient is the Organising Secretary of Boalia (West) AL. RCC officials, however, did not pass any remark about leasing of the passenger shed.
Luxmipur area is one of the busiest areas of the city. Several hospitals, clinics, diagonostic centres and several-hunded drug stores including Rajshahi Medical College Hospital are situation in this area. That is why, the area remains busy round the clock. Many tired people and bus passengers used to take rest for a while under the passenger shed but due to leasing the shed to the local ruling party leaders, people are being deprived from taking rest there.
The passenger shed has now turned to a blazer shop. Shutters have been set up to close the shed and inside of the shed has been decorated with coloured lighting.
According to source, the passenger-shed has been leased out to the ruling party leader secretly by RCC some two-month ago. It is further learnt, Executive Magistrate of RCC Samar Kumar Paul was also aware of the incident of leasing out the passenger shed.
On January 14 last, Samar Kumar Paul conducted operation against the illegal occupants at Luxmipur area. He then sealed out the blazer-shop set up inside the passenger shed.
But, the next day, the lease recipient went to RCC with the documents when RCC reopened the shop by breaking the seal.
Meanwhile, local people have expressed their anger at setting up of shop at the passenger shed. Requesting annonimity, one person said, they used to sit down under the passenger shed. Many people who come here for treatment and other purposes would take rest under the shed. Even, a hawker who used to sell newspapers by sitting beside the shed has been removed from the place.
However, while talking to the journalists, lease recipient Abdul Kaiyum informed, RCC had sealed out the shop and also RCC has reopened the shop by breaking the seal. He advised to enquire the authorities of RCC in this connection.
Magistrate Samar Kumar Paul informed,' It was correct that the shop was sealed out but later he came to learn that the Passenger Shed has been leased out by RCC.'
Chief Revenue Officer of RCC Abu Saleh Nur-e-Sayed in this connection mentioned, ' the shed has been leased out by the Administration section of RCC and he can not say anything in this regard.'
RCC Secretary Abu Hayat Rahmatullah informed, he will not be able to make any comment to the media about RCC. Expressing his regret he said,' Sorry, I have beenforbidden to pass any comment.'