Violations of various rules : Administration stops constitution of Jamaat MP Masud Sayedi's luxary hotel Istanbul in Kuakata
Gofran Palash, Kalapara (Patuakhali)
The administration has halted the construction of 'Hotel Istanbul'—a high-end, luxury hotel project in Kuakata, Patuakhali, linked to Jamaat-e-Islami MP Masud Sayedi.
On Tuesday afternoon, Kalapara UNO Md. Arifuzzaman and Kuakata Municipality Administrator Yasin Sadek stopped the construction work and displayed a banner announcing an official prohibition.
According to administrative sources, the project developers failed to obtain the necessary clearances: they did not secure permission from the Deputy Commissioner of Patuakhali before purchasing the land, nor did they obtain authorization from the Divisional Commissioner of Barishal before commencing construction. Furthermore, the land has not been legally mutated in the name of 'Istanbul Hotel & Resort Ltd.' Additionally, the site—comprising plots 4119, 4121, and 4139 in the Kuakata mouza—falls within an area designated for a proposed railway line and rail station under the 'Kuakata Tourism Center (KTC) Master Plan 2024,' which served as a primary reason for the halt.
The luxury hotel project was being developed near Musulliyabad village in the Kuakata municipal area, under the supervision of Masud Sayeedi—a Member of Parliament for the Pirojpur-1 constituency, elected on a Jamaat-e-Islami ticket, and son of the late Delawar Hossain Sayedi.
Meanwhile, local residents Uma Chan (an ethnic Rakhine) and Jahangir Howlader—have filed a lawsuit claiming ownership of the land. Local sources indicate that the court has issued an injunction regarding the property, which remains in effect.
Separately, there is growing concern regarding the proliferation of unplanned hotels, motels, resorts, and high-rise buildings in the Kuakata tourist hub. Following the opening of the Padma Bridge, significant improvements in regional connectivity have spurred an expansion of tourism-related businesses and commercial activities. While the potential of the area has led to the construction of numerous hotels and resorts, ensuring planned urbanization has now become a major challenge. In this context, the municipal authority is prioritizing the proper implementation of the Kuakata master plan, adherence to construction regulations, and raising awareness among all stakeholders. Although construction permits for seven buildings have been granted over the past two months, the municipality has also installed signboards ordering a halt to construction on 35 other buildings currently underway.
M. A. Motalab Sharif, president of the Kuakata Hotel-Motel Owners Association, stated that there are currently over 300 hotels and motels in Kuakata—one of the country’s premier tourist destinations—170 of which are members of his association. He emphasized the urgent need to improve service quality and strengthen security measures in these establishments to ensure a safe and comfortable stay for tourists.
Yasin Sadek, Administrator of the Kuakata Municipality and Assistant Commissioner (Land), stated that the authorities are actively intervening to prevent the construction of unauthorized buildings, including the deployment of mobile courts. A committee—comprising the Divisional Commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner of Patuakhali, representatives from the Public Works Department (PWD) and the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), the Kuakata municipal administrator, and a senior planner from the Urban Development Authority—is responsible for reviewing and approving building proposals. The committee makes its decisions after examining the proposed designs and all necessary documentation.
He further noted that, under the master plan, the height of buildings in areas adjacent to the embankment must remain within specified limits. Additionally, he pointed out that constructing a building without approval from the competent authority is a punishable offense under the Building Construction Act, 1952. He also confirmed that, according to the Kuakata master plan, the land in question is designated for railway infrastructure.
Attempts to reach Masud Sayedee by phone for comment on this matter were unsuccessful.
Later, the issue was discussed with Md. Monir Musulli, the local representative for the project, who remarked, This is a large-scale project. For this project, we have obtained all necessary documentation from the Fire Service and the Department of Environment.
Furthermore, we have already submitted an application to the office of the Barishal Divisional Commissioner seeking permission for the construction of the building. We have also secured a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Kuakata Municipality. Despite this, if one wishes to find fault, there is always something that can be pointed out. Taking everything into account, it now appears to us that a major political game is at play here.
