Khagrachhari Shishu Academy Complex
Dilemma over location delays construction for months
Construction of Shishu Academy complex in the town has not started 17 months after inauguration of the Tk 9.34 crore project as the authorities have remained undecided about the location even after allotment of land for the academy.
Khagrachhari bazar fund committee on June 20, 2008 allotted about one acre of land for Shishu Academy Complex in court area of the district town, said sources at district Shishu Academy office.
Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on March 2 last year approved the fund of Tk 9 crore 34 lakh 82 thousand and 518 for the project that was scheduled to start in June 2010 and complete by June 2013.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs on November 20, 2009 ordered the local administration to acquire land for construction of Chief Judicial Magistrate's (CJM) Court and the authorities proposed the same location for the purpose.
On August 30 last year, the district administration sent a proposal to Bazar Fund Administration to cancel the allotment of the land for Shishu Academy Complex.
The work for the project has remained hanging as the authorities are yet to take a concrete decision regarding the matter, sources said.
Chairman of Khagrachhari Hill District Council and Administrator of Khagrachhari Bazar Fund Administration Kujandra Lal Tripura said they have no legal power to cancel the allotment of the land that was earlier decided for Shishu Academy.
District Children Affairs Officer Ushanu Chowdhury said, "The construction of Shishu Academy Complex, aimed at physical, mental and cultural development of local children, has not started in 17 months. Now the project seems uncertain."
Khagrachhari Deputy Commissioner Anis-ul Haque Bhuyan said, "The place is appropriate for the CJM court as it is near the District and Sessions Judge's Court, local police station and district administration office. I informed local lawmaker Jatindra Lal Tripura of the matter for solution."
President of District Bar Association Mohammad Taiyab Ali said the Shishu Academy authorities should compromise the issue for betterment of the local people as the place is appropriate for the CJM Court.
Local lawmaker Jatindra Lal Tripura, also chairman of Chittagong Hill Tracts Refugee Affairs Task Force, said, "I told Khagrachhari Hill District Council chairman, the deputy commissioner and the authorities concerned to take proper initiative through compromise to implement the two projects."
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