The government has turned down a proposal of the Bangladesh Army to hand over 54.99 acres of land of closed Jalil Textile Mills for expanding Bangladesh Ordnance Factory at a token price.

“We will hand over the land, but not in lieu of a token price,” Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed said emerging from the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase and Advisers Council Committee on Economic Affairs held at the Bangladesh Secretariat.

He said the Bangladesh Army wanted to take the land of Jalil Textile Mills. “We proposed that we will not give that land for token money; from now on we will avoid such token price,” Dr Salehuddin said.

Those who wanted to take government land have to pay the market price, he said, adding, “Those who wanted to take land with a token price usually do not want to utilise the land properly.”

In this connection, the Adviser also mentioned that if anyone needs 10 acres of land, when it is at token price the demand will be for 100 acres. “Surely, we will give the land, let the proposal come first,” Dr Salehuddin said.

The textile mill under the control of Bangladesh Textile Mills is located in Faujdarhat area of Chattogram district.

Bangladesh Ordnance Factory of Bangladesh Army is supposed to give the money to Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation (BTMC).