HC orders probe into Tk1,000 Metro rail canteen rent

The High Court has ordered an investigation into the process of renting the 7,580 square feet staff canteen of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) at Uttara depot for only Tk 1,000 per month.

A High Court bench of justices Mustafa Zaman Islam and Md Atabullah passed the order on Thursday. The High Court directed the roads and transport secretary to investigate the matter and submit a report within the next month.

The court also issued a rule seeking explanation as to why a circular announcing that the canteen is being rented out for Tk 1,000 per month should not be declared illegal.

Lawyer Tanveer Ahmed represented the court in the writ, while Assistant Attorney General Salim Azad represented the state.

Speaking to the media, lawyer Tanveer said, “The contract of renting the 7,580 square feet canteen of metro rail’s Uttara depot for Tk 1,000 per month is about to be finalised. This is not normal.

“When I learned of this matter, I sent a legal notice to the duty officers, but they ignored it. This is why I filed a writ, and the hearing took place on Thursday.”

Back on March 14, a DMTCL circular signed by the General Manager (Stores and Procurement) Nazrul Islam was issued, renting out the canteen for Tk 1,000 per month and Tk 12,000 per year excluding income tax and VAT.

The circular mentioned that the tender of Khandaker Enterprise has been deemed acceptable by the DMTCL.