The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry has demanded Tk 40 crore from the public coffer to construct its proposed multi-storied building in the capital, its officials said.
FBCCI, the apex chamber body, placed the demand through a letter to the ministry of finance recently.
It requested that the money should be allocated in the new budget that is scheduled to be announced June 7, 2012.
Talking to New Age on Sunday, FBCCI president AK Azad admitted the apex chamber had asked for the fund to construct its proposed 18-storey commercial building at Hatkhola, close to Motijheel commercial area.
The FBCCI president refused to explain why they have sought funds from the government when they can easily take loan from the banks for the purpose.      
The finance ministry officials said they were processing the FBCCI demand.
A summery has already been prepared seeking approval of finance minister AMA Muhith in this regard, they said.
Some of the finance ministry officials, however, raised questions about the demand.
They pointed out that BGMEA, a leading garment exporters association, illegally constructed a building with the blessings of successive governments on a water-body in the city.
Later, the organisation led by the then president Annisul Huq sold out most parts of the BGMEA building to the commercial clients, they said.
FBCCI vice-president Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu said they have no intention to sell any parts of the proposed building to be built on some 10 kathas of land.
‘Our main aim is to accommodate affiliated bodies and organsations,’ he said.
He said the existing FBCCI office at Motijheel cannot solve the accommodation problem the organization has long been facing.     
FBCCI has already laid the foundation-stone of the proposed building on May 6, 2012 with the finance minister attending the function. The current FBCCI president promised to build the building after he was elected in 2010.
FBCCI has already appointed Sthapati, a local consultant, to prepare design and assessment of the construction costs. It is expecting that the consulting firm would submit its report within a month.
The FBCCI officials said they would float open tender to select a contractor. They said the construction cost of the building would be between Tk 20 crore million and Tk 25 crore million.