A total of 1,413 plots were allotted on political grounds in five housing projects in Dhaka between 2009 and 2024, with 1,074 plots in Purbachal and Jhilmil alone facing allegations of irregularities, a parliamentary committee was told on Sunday.

Of the plots identified in reports as involving irregularities, 874 are in Purbachal New Town Project and 200 in Jhilmil Residential Area.

The files relating to these plots have been kept on hold, according to the Housing and Public Works Ministry.

The issue was discussed at the second meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Housing and Public Works Ministry chaired by its chairman Md Rezaul Karim Badsha at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

The committee discussed taking legal action after proper investigation into the alleged irregularities, including whether political considerations influenced the allotments.

The  plots were allotted in Gulshan, Banani, Uttara and Jhilmil residential areas and the Purbachal New Town Project during the period. Purbachal accounted for the highest number, with 944 plots.

A committee formed in response to a rule issued by the High Court Division reviewed documents relating to plot allotments in different Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) projects and submitted its findings to the ministry.

The committee also reviewed progress on decisions taken at its first meeting.

Regarding the reconstruction of the graves of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, the ministry said various initiatives have been taken to expedite the work. I

t expressed hope that reconstruction of the main structures would be completed by December 2026.

The committee also called for the speedy completion of unfinished landscaping and cleaning work in the adjoining garden and premises.

The ministry informed the meeting that the development project proposal for installing rooftop solar panels on government buildings, titled “Enhancing Clean Energy Access through Rooftop Solar PV in Public Infrastructure”, was sent to the Planning Commission for approval.

The proposed project is expected to generate 360 megawatts of electricity.

Any surplus electricity remaining after use in the respective buildings could be supplied to the national grid.

The meeting was also informed that preparations are underway to lay the foundation stone of the new secretariat in Agargaon, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, on December 16.

Housing and Public Works State Minister Ahmed Sohel Manzur and MPs Md Lutfozzaman Babar, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Iqbal, M Manjurul Karim Rony, Md Ruhul Amin and Md Tajuddin Khan attended the meeting.