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Neighbor suffers as banker builds illegal house in Khulna
Published : Monday, 17 August, 2026 at 4:18 PM
Observer Correspondent
A banker couple is constructing a four-story building on Kashem Road No. 4 in Khulna without following the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) set by the Khulna Development Authority (KDA), causing severe distress to their neighbor.
The victim, Md Shaheen, reported that construction debris frequently falls from the illegal building onto his residence. Despite submitting multiple complaints to KDA authorities, he has received no remedy and is currently living in a dilapidated cottage adjacent to the under-construction site with his family.
Shaheen, the eldest son of local resident Md Hashem Ali Howlader, said his family has lived there for 30 years. His two uncles sold 2.90 decimals of land to Sonali Bank official Md Monowar Hossain and his wife, who began construction in mid-2018.
According to KDA rules, the building plan required a setback of 3.16 meters (10 feet 4 inches) at the front. However, the bank official violated the approved design, leaving only 4 feet at the ground level and merely 1 inch from the hanging balcony.
Similarly, KDA guidelines mandated a clearance of 1.00 meter (3 feet 3 inches) on the north and south sides, but only 1 foot was left. At the rear, where 3 feet 3 inches was required, the builder left between 1 foot 6 inches and 2 feet.
Under Section 9 of the East Bengal Building Construction Act 1952 (amended in 1987), KDA issued several show-cause notices to Monowar Hossain between 2023 and 2026. However, the bank official repeatedly delayed responses using various pretexts while completing the four-story structure.
KDA records show that Authorized Officer GM Masudur Rahman issued a final order (Memo No: 147, 2018, 2026-3688) on July 21, instructing the owner to demolish the unauthorized portions. Despite the directive, construction continued unabated.
When asked, GM Masudur Rahman stated that KDA could not conduct demolition drives due to the absence of an executive magistrate.
In written replies to previous KDA notices, Monowar Hossain admitted his mistakes, claiming that he and his wife hired a contractor due to their job postings elsewhere, and the contractor deviated from the approved design. He repeatedly sought six-month extensions for renovations, using the time to push forward with construction.
Contacted via phone, Monowar Hossain declined to comment, stating that the matter between KDA and his neighbor had already progressed significantly.
-SMS/SA
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
