Dhaka WASA faces scrutiny over proposal to develop luxury high-rise on prime Gulshan land
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Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) is facing scrutiny over a proposal to develop luxury high-rise residential apartments on a prime 114-katha plot in the Gulshan-2 area of the capital. The project, proposed by the private developer Assure Development and Design, suggests constructing a 19-story complex on the state-owned land, with a revenue-sharing model that would grant 49 percent ownership to the developer and 51 percent to WASA.
The land, located on Road 55, was originally allocated to WASA by the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) under a 99-year lease agreement signed in 2009. The site currently houses a guest house used by the WASA Managing Director, staff residential quarters, and significant green space. Real estate experts estimate the market value of the plot at approximately 1.14 billion taka.
The proposal has ignited concerns regarding the transparency of the deal and the involvement of private interests. Assure Development and Design is chaired by Sheikh Sadi, a political figure and former nomination seeker for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). While the proposal suggests building 150 “icon category” luxury apartments—each exceeding 4,700 square feet—critics, including urban planners, have questioned the necessity of such luxury units for a public utility agency.
Internal documents reveal that WASA formed a three-member committee on July 16 to evaluate the proposal’s financial and legal implications. However, the plan encountered strong resistance during a recent meeting of the performance support committee, preventing it from proceeding. Skeptics argue that if development is required, the state should undertake the project independently rather than ceding valuable public land to private developers.
Adil Muhammad Khan, a professor of Urban and Regional Planning at Jahangirnagar University, stated that considering a private proposal for the redevelopment of lush, open public land in an elite area like Gulshan is highly questionable. He added that public assets should not be utilized to facilitate private commercial interests and called for a transparent investigation into the motivations behind the project.
RAJUK Chairman Mohammad Riazul Islam noted that the agency has not received official notification regarding the development plans. He emphasized that any usage must strictly adhere to the original lease conditions that prohibit unauthorized land transfers or changes in property use.
WASA Managing Director Md. Aminul Islam confirmed that the proposal is in its preliminary stages. He stated that the agency would prioritize its own institutional interests and ensure that any future actions remain strictly within the bounds of the law, refuting allegations of external pressure. As of now, the proposal remains stalled amid internal dissent and public outcry.
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