Dhaka: Some 12,960.41 acres of land of Bangladesh Rail remain unused across the country with some illegal structures or infrastructures or illegal grabbers on these lands.

‘These illegal occupants are gradually being evicted,’ Railways Minister Mazibul Hoque told Parliament while responding to a starred question from ruling party MP Md Israfil Alam (Naogaon-6).

He said a process is on to build a five-star hotel-cum-commercial building, motels, medical colleges, hospitals and multi-storied shopping malls under the public private partnership (PPP) on the unused lands or the lands that will not be necessary for future expansion and development activities.

The minister said a transaction adviser has been appointed by the time from the PPP office under the Prime Minister Office to build a five-star hotel at Zakir Hossain Road in Chittagong under the PPP.

He also mentioned that a final detailed feasibility study report on the transaction adviser has been approved.

‘Soon the RFQ (request for quotation) from the investors will be invited,’ the minister told the House.

He said an agreement was signed on 19 May to appoint a transaction adviser for the development of shopping complex-cum-guesthouses on PPP basis on Bangladesh Railway lands near Chittagong, Khulna and Comilla railway stations.