Army uses state land for profits
Says BBC documentary
With preliminary capital from the government, the Bangladesh army is using state land for business purposes to make a profit for the force, said a BBC bangla radio documentary yesterday.
The army business ventures using state land include five star hotel, general hotel, fast food shop and golf clubs, reported fifth part of the nine parts series documentary titled “Military in business.”
It is not that the hotel is using only land properties of the force but also taking privileges of different establishments for Army, the documentary aired in its evening news program “Probaho” added.
The business institutions include five star Hotel Radisson Water Garden Ltd, New Tiger Garden Hotel Ltd in Khulna, Captain's World, a fast food shop near Shaheen School and College, Bhatiary Golf and Country Club, Kurmitola Golf Club and Savar Golf Club.
Another project of the army to construct a five star hotel named Water Gardens Hotel Ltd in Chittagong is underway, it said.
The documentary reported that two to three customers of the hotel visit the golf club twice or thrice every week.
Maj Gen (Retd) Amin Ahmed Chowdhury who was involved in constructing the hotel Radisson at its primary stage told the documentary that the initiative for constructing the hotel had been taken in 1987, firstly to accommodate our foreign guests and hold annual program and seminars of army.
It is impossible for them to get institutional patronisation the way Radisson received, the documentary said.
“Radisson is established on seven acres of cantonment's land worth Tk 100 crore. Investment of such amount is impossible for any individual and that's why other five star hotels are just a part of Radisson,” said an expert on hotel business wishing not to be named.
Regarding use of army golf club for business purpose, Chowdhury said, “It does not cause losses either for army or for the ministry of defence. But we also have to ensure that the golf course survive from its own income.”
The Bhatiary Golf Club was established on 600 acres of land and the board of directors of the club include some rich and well-off businessmen in the country besides army men.
Only two years into establishment since 1985, number of its members rose to around 100. None except the directors could know about expenditure or profit of the club.
A publication of Bhatiary club says it was established as a registered company and recognised as a sport organisation by the board of revenue, meaning that tax is not applicable for donations or charity given to the club.
Savar Golf Club Ltd was established in 1997 on 69 acres of land and it has 750 members, more than 40 percent of whom are not from army.
The army headquarters did not reply to the question how the state properties are being used for business purposes.
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