Shikdar Nur-E-Alam Siddikee Murad: Medlar Fashion Limited, a sister concern of Opex-Sinha Group has been fined Tk 85.68 crore due to keeping a huge land of the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) abandoned under gripe which was allotted in 2003 for a five-star international hotel.

The BNP regime`s influential business group had been allotted 80 Katha land located very close to the airport along Nikunj (North) Airport Road which includes commercial plots No. 61, 63, 65, and 67 for Tk 9 crore 68 lakh 8 thousand and 80 in 2003.

These plots were allocated to Medlar Fashion Limited for the purpose of building an international five-star hotel near the airport for VIPs from different countries to stay at the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit. However, this group has no experience or expertise in managing international hotels.

Medlar Fashion Limited was supposed to build the hotel in 2003 as per the terms. But in long 21 years last, the company has not built a single structure on the land denying frequent notification from the RAJUK. As a result, the plots have been lying vacant for 21 years in a neglected state. RAJUK has not taken any step in these plots for some unexplained reason though it has the sole authority to cancel the allotted plot if the allottee does not comply with the terms or fails to pay the dues.

However, on April 18 this year, RAJUK issued a letter to the authorities of Medlar Fashion Limited imposing a penalty of Tk 85.68 crore for not constructing the building as per the conditions. It was directed to pay the entire penalty amount within 1 month from the date of issuance.

It is known that the officials of Medlar Fashion Limited are looking for ways to avoid paying this huge amount of fine with the help of a class of dishonest officers and employees of RAJUK and are lobbying in different means.

It is learned that the Opex-Sinha group is almost dead now. All the projects of this group have come to a standstill due to lack of funds and the group is saddled with thousands of crores of bank loans. In this situation, it seems that it is not possible for this group to establish any new project.