The developer of national highways is likely to reduce leasing rate by half for using its land and other assets after revising the land management policy 2015.
Officials said the decision to reduce leasing price of the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) lands was made for regular payments by delinquent leaseholders.
Most of the leaseholders shy away from paying the amount after their first contract expires, they added.
The officials said the rate was doubled from the earlier rate mentioned in the policy.
"We've revised the policy. It's now under review of the ministry concerned," said superintendent engineer Roshni-A-Fatimah, also head of RHD Estate Department.
He said the land policy will be effective after getting the approval of finance ministry.
The national road and highway developer owns nearly 70,000 acres of land across the country.
It leases a major portion of its roadside property for using bus-truck terminals and social afforestation for a certain period under the policy.
The RHD also rents bungalow, cottage, picnic spot and resort in different districts for recreation purposes.
According to the estate department, the RHD has 135 bungalows, two resorts both in Bandarban, three cottages and two picnic spots.
Leaseholders include city corporations and the army.
Private partners and organisations also lease both land and other assets from the RHD using political influence.
Oddly enough, the leaseholders hardly pay the RHD the leased amount for using its valuable land.
Even government high officials who use bungalows and cottages also resort to the same practice.
There is also a lack of initiative on the part of the RHD to review the matter for an unholy nexus between local office staff and a leaseholder.
The RHD never renews a contract, giving scope for a leaseholder to skip payments for an unlimited period.
According to the policy, officials said, a leaseholder is required to pay 75 per cent of rate against land quantity and price.
However, the rate has now been proposed at 35 per cent.
It was 15 per cent before 2015, the officials said.
They said the RHD has made a move to develop software with relevant data and information on leasehold.
It aims to develop a monitoring system at all RHD offices and alert leaseholders for maintaining regularity in payment and renewal.
