Landowners have raised allegations of fraud against the real estate company 'Dom-Inno', claiming they were deceived after signing contracts with the company to construct buildings on their own land.
The allegations were made during a press conference organised by the aggrieved landowners at the Segunbagicha Dhaka Reporters Unit in the capital on Saturday, highlighting various malpractices by the real estate company Dom-Inno.
They appealed for intervention from the Prime Minister's office regarding this matter.
Landowner Adnan Sobhan read out a written statement alleging that, "Despite the usual timeframe of three years for constructing a residential multi-storey building in the capital Dhaka, due to extreme mismanagement, negligence, and arbitrary actions by the company, projects have remained incomplete for 12 to 16 years. Additionally, a significant portion of the signing money stipulated in the contracts remains unaccounted for by many landowners."
Furthermore, Sobhan revealed that the company has ongoing projects where initial land development work has yet to commence, even a decade after contract signing. Progress on these projects has been abysmal, with completion rates hovering around 10% to 30%, despite Dom-Inno having already sold almost all the under-construction flats allocated to landowners.
Adnan Sobhan also stated, "Apart from landowners, flat owners are also suffering. Despite making payments, they are not receiving the flats they rightfully deserve."
He added, "Despite repeated inquiries about project progress, the company continues to make empty promises and assurances year after year. Dom-Inno has failed to compensate landowners as required by the contract for delays in project completion."
"Numerous landowners have filed multiple cases against the company due to these grievances, with 136 cases reportedly filed against Abdus Salam, managing director of Dom-Inno. However, the pace of legal proceedings is disappointingly slow," Sobhan continued.
He said, “Despite lodging verbal and written complaints against Dom-Inno with Rehab, an organisation of real estate companies, no action has been taken thus far. Rehab holds the authority to revoke membership of errant real estate companies but has failed to exercise this power.”
The defrauded landowners have presented a six-point demand, which includes the establishment of a 'cell' or commission to address the crisis caused by Dom-Inno. They also urge for the annulment of contracts and deeds between landowners and Dom-Inno once the project handover period has elapsed.
Additionally, hefty compensation is demanded for each bounced check issued by Dom-Inno to landowners, and the cooperation of human rights organiSations, including the National Human Rights Commission, is sought to address the serious human rights violations.
An appeal is made to the Chief Justice for swift action to resolve the crisis, and the Minister of Law, Public Works, and Home Affairs is implored to intervene decisively in this matter.