His Role As A Cabinet Minister
After the general election in 1996, Engr. Mosharraf was entrusted with two important portfolios as a full Cabinet Minister: for Ministry of Civil Aviation & Tourism, and Ministry of Public Works & Housing under the Awami League regime. With his analytical and transparent mind-set as an Engineer he conducted all activities in his Ministries with transparency, efficiency and determination. Some of his notable tasks as a cabinet Minister are described below:
Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism:
• Although the lone National Airlines, Biman Bangladesh was in a very dilapidated state prior to his takeover, Engr. Mosharraf was able to turn around this loss-making organization into a customer service oriented, responsible and profitable airline under his leadership. • During his Ministry he ensured smooth services to all Hajj Pilgrims which was praised by many pilgrims. Each year all Hajj flights were managed and operated smoothly and successfully under his ministry. • He made major development at the Shahjalal International Airport such as: expansion of the terminal hall; establishment of cargo-village; refurbishment of departure lounge; additional boarding bridge connection; construction of multistoried car parking; refurbishment and development of arrival lounge; and many other development & modernization of the international airport. • Due to his strong determination and transparency he was able to complete the construction of new Chittagong MA Hannan International Airport before the due date. This is a very rare example in Bangladesh for such a large project. • Due to his timely action and determination he was able to turn Bangladesh Biman into a 25 Billion Taka National Organization with expanded assets and fleets. • In order to protect the scenic beauty and environment of Cox’s Bazar Sea Beach area, he was holding back the allotment of the beach side government properties to public. He had a master plan with integrated project and landscaping to uphold the beauty and environment of Cox’s Bazar beach. Unfortunately, under the next Four Party Alliance government, these protected lands were allotted to their own party men.
Ministry of Housing and Public Works:
• As a Minister of Housing and Public Works he established the National Housing Authority, and National Housing authority Act 2000 in order to solve the enormous housing problem of the country, particularly for the poor, the low and the middle-income group of people. • After taking charge of the Ministry Engr. Mosharraf has successfully stopped many unethical and corrupt practices in the Ministry of Public Works such as grabbing of land by certain corrupt and influential people with the help of unscrupulous government officials with fraudulent land document. He even had to face court charges and appeared personally before court in order to save government owned lands from the land grabbers. • In his own initiative he “Jaladhara Act (Lowland Act) 2000” to protect the environment as some land grabbers were illegally filling low lands such as lakes, creeks, rivers and ponds and causing enormous environmental damage. • In order to keep the process simple, transparent and free from party influence Engr. Mosharraf handed over the land allotment authority to a committee headed by the Secretary of Public Works. • In order to keep government land safe from Land Pirates, he made some changes in the system to close legal loop holes. • By developing 1000 flats for the NAM village under tender through RAJUK & PWD he tried to ease the housing problems in Dhaka. • He recovered many illegally occupied government lands by eviction drive in Dhaka city. • Notably, he took stern measures against the infamous Rangs Bhaban near Airport Road as they violated the height restrictions of six stories by adding 8 additional floors above the existing six storied building. Unfortunately, due to intervention from High Court the measures could not be taken against the owners of Rangs Bhaban. • He evicted the slum dwellers from Dhanmondi Lake and restored the lake with walkways and resting areas. Similarly he took steps to recover lake areas in Gulshan and Banani and restore the lake areas for public recreation, however, the government tenure ended before he could complete it. • He initiated the development of amphitheatre at the DC Hill in Chittagong along with a walkway and park for cultural activities and recreation.
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