Latest news with #BD5.4
Daily Tribune
10-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Waqf property income rises 23% to BD5.4mln last year
A rise of 23 per cent in Waqf property income, reaching more than BD5.4 million last year, was disclosed in Parliament yesterday. Justice, Islamic Affairs and Waqf Minister, His Ex Nawaf Al Maawda, defended the management of the Sunni Waqf Directorate amid questions about unused properties and staff wages. He said 85 per cent of the flats managed by the directorate were currently occupied, with the remaining 15 per cent vacant. 'These are normal figures for any investment,' he told MPs. Employee Responding to a question from MP Mohammed Al Rifai, he added: 'The employee mentioned is not responsible for just one building. He is following up on several projects and also handling maintenance and development.' He said all tenders were opened through an internal committee. 'We deal with all applicants with full transparency,' he said. Lack of detail MP Al Rifai criticised what he described as a lack of detail in the response. 'There are abandoned and unlet properties under the Sunni Waqf,' he said. 'Some are handled by more than one employee even though the sites are near each other, and each employee is paid around BD2,000.' He also voiced concern that some of the properties may be vulnerable to theft. Website In response to a separate question from MP Muneer Suroor, the minister said: 'The Jaafari Waqf Directorate has a website through which all affiliated properties and endowments are displayed.' He said this aimed to make information more accessible and to ensure transparency. He acknowledged difficulties with parking and overcrowding around mosques, saying: 'There is a joint study with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning to address these challenges and find solutions suited to each area.'
Daily Tribune
07-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
MP inquires into idle Waqf buildings amid rental boom
Rental income from Sunni Waqf properties rose by 23 per cent last year to BD5.4 million, according to the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Waqf, which has been pressed in Parliament to explain its handling of idle buildings, unpaid rent and slow repairs. The response followed a formal question from MP Mohammed Al Rifaai, who asked for figures on vacant sites, revenue collected, leases in effect, maintenance requests and arrears. His queries focused on properties overseen by the Sunni Waqf Directorate. According to the Ministry, the Directorate manages 465 Waqf properties, including 158 plots. Figure Around 15 per cent are not in use at present. That figure changes from time to time, depending on the type of property and demand in the market. Some land remains undeveloped while awaiting planning decisions. The Ministry said income from leases reached BD5,434,368 in 2024. The rise was put down to firmer oversight and new plans for investment. Rent can now be paid through the BenefitPay app, by cheque or using a payment machine installed inside the Directorate's office. Electronic routes A deal with the SADAD service was struck to open further electronic routes. Where tenants have fallen behind, the Directorate has attempted to settle matters without court action. In some cases, terms were agreed. In others, legal action was taken and rulings issued in favour of the Directorate. Several tenants signed formal agreements to repay what was owed. The Ministry said lease contracts do not expire without action. If both sides agree, the term is renewed. Rent may be revised, depending on the state of the unit, market conditions and the tenant's means. In terms of repairs, the Directorate received 2,768 maintenance requests in 2023 and 2024. It said 2,655 were dealt with, and the remainder are either being handled or waiting for funds. Properties were grouped by the scale of work needed, and repairs were planned in line with that. Where possible, the Directorate has given tenants grace periods in their rent agreements to keep units occupied while work is under way. The Ministry said most evictions were not linked to poor upkeep, but rather to changes in demand or mismatches between rents and market levels. A financial guidebook was drawn up to govern how rent is handled, how buildings are let and how upkeep is managed. Islamic law The Ministry said all of this is done within the bounds of Islamic law and the terms set by donors. It added that the 1985 decree still forms the legal basis for its role. This places both Sunni and Jaafari Waqf councils under the Ministry's watch while allowing each one to run its own properties.
