Tale of a real estate developer

I work in Ashulia, Savar, in an organisation located few hundred yards away from a large Housing Project being implemented by a renowned (!) real estate developer. I had been watching for many months now, how the developer, in league with the local bigwigs, had been cutting earth from government-owned highland, and filling up wetland in Ashulia. It was reported one day in the national press that the company was under investigation by a Parliamentary Committee for grabbing government land. Within a few days of the publication of that report, I saw huge ceremonial arches and colourful Shamianas being erected at the project site. The banner proclaimed arrival of a state minister. On the appointed day, the state minister accompanied by the local MP arrived at the site; they visited the project and laid the foundation stone of a mosque and madrassa complex! Probably the grabbing of public land was thus made legitimate.

Since then the company has started filling up of the wetland with renewed vigour. During the floods, the company advertised in various dailies that their site was flood-free and invited people to come and see it for themselves. Indeed, the developer had filled up the wetland and made it higher than the flood level, but at the same time created huge, ugly gaping holes in the interior of Savar.

Such is the irony of development!