Several government bungalows and apartments in areas such as Bailey Road, Minto Road, Hare Road and Gulshan in Dhaka were originally built to house ministers. Although these neighbourhoods came to be known as the “Ministers’ Zone,” they are currently occupied by election commissioners, anti-corruption commissioners, judges and other senior officials. The interim government now wants to reserve these residences exclusively for ministers.

The Directorate of Government Housing under the Ministry of Housing and Public Works has already identified 71 bungalows and apartments for this purpose. A proposal has been made to earmark all of them solely for ministerial use.

Housing officials say that many constitutional officeholders already have separate, designated residences, yet some have been living in the Ministers’ Zone instead. This has disrupted the original allocation policy. To address the issue, authorities have decided to formally earmark all 71 government residences located in the area.

On November 2, a seven-member committee was formed, headed by Housing Directorate Director Md Asaduzzaman, to review and reassign housing for ministers. The committee has since submitted its report, recommending that 30 additional residences be added to the previously designated 41.

According to housing officials, a gazette notification issued in 2013 had reserved 41 bungalows and apartments on Bailey Road, Minto Road and Hare Road for ministers. However, this notification was revoked by the Ministry of Public Works on October 22 last year. Following the cancellation, the new committee was formed. Its report includes the original 41 residences along with 30 newly identified ones—19 on Bailey Road, five in Gulshan, five in Dhanmondi and one on Minto Road.

Officials acknowledged that vacant units were temporarily allocated to various individuals. However, once a new cabinet is formed after the 13th national parliamentary election, accommodating ministers in the Ministers’ Zone could become problematic. Evicting judges and constitutional officeholders from these residences would be difficult. To prevent future complications, authorities want to ensure that no new non-ministerial occupants move into the area.

Md Asaduzzaman told the media that the committee has recommended earmarking all 71 residences, and the final decision now rests with the government.

Why the move was taken

Officials from the Ministry of Public Works said the earlier housing plan for ministers did not match actual usage. They stressed the need to clearly define who is eligible to live in these high-security zones.

Sources said that although 41 residences were designated for ministers in 2013, judges and constitutional officeholders began living there during the previous Awami League government. After the July mass uprising, the number increased further. Since the country currently has no elected government or ministers, many apartments remained vacant.

There are three buildings on Bailey Road known as the “Ministers’ Apartments,” each containing 10 flats designed to house ministers. Each flat measures approximately 5,500 square feet. At present, these apartments are occupied by advisers, judges, senior bureaucrats and other influential figures.

Officials noted that while vacant flats were temporarily allocated, the situation could lead to serious complications once a new cabinet is formed. Removing constitutional officeholders would be particularly difficult. Therefore, authorities want to ensure that once current occupants leave, no one other than ministers can move into these residences.

Preparations are underway to enforce a policy that will permanently restrict the 71 earmarked bungalows and flats to ministers only.

Current occupants and numbers

There are 15 ministerial bungalows on Minto Road and Hare Road, some of which are currently occupied by advisers. In addition, the three Ministers’ Apartment buildings on Bailey Road contain 30 flats, all of which are now being formally earmarked for ministers. Previously, only 11 of these flats were designated for that purpose.

The committee also identified eight additional residences in Gulshan and Dhanmondi that were not previously earmarked and recommended their inclusion. One vacant single-storey house in Gulshan had earlier been occupied by former law minister Anisul Huq. Another bungalow on Road 84 in Gulshan is registered in the name of Sheikh Rehana, sister of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. A separate house in Dhanmondi is registered under the name of former secretary Hedayetullah Al Mamun.

Sources said that many of these residences were previously allocated on the basis of administrative needs or temporary decisions. As a result, housing policies became unclear and security and administrative management in the Ministers’ Zone grew more complex.

No final decision has yet been made regarding the future of current occupants if the new policy is enforced. Officials said discussions are ongoing at various administrative levels.