Dhaka: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today said the government is working to build a transparent, accountable and investment-friendly housing sector to promote planned urbanisation, sustainable development and corruption-free governance across Bangladesh.
He made the remarks during a courtesy meeting with a delegation of the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) at the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat, according to Prime Minister’s Assistant Press Secretary Abdullah Al Mahmud Shahriar.
“The housing industry is one of the key drivers of the national economy. Its development is crucial to the country’s overall economic growth. The government is working to create a transparent, accountable and investment-friendly environment to ensure that the housing sector develops in a planned, sustainable and corruption-free manner,” the Prime Minister said.
Tarique Rahman said the government has already undertaken a series of reform initiatives to eliminate irregularities in the housing sector and is implementing additional measures to strengthen governance and improve transparency in the industry.
Balanced Urbanisation Across the Country
The Prime Minister stressed that Bangladesh’s urban development should not remain concentrated in the capital alone.
“Urbanisation should not remain confined to Dhaka alone; other regions of the country must also be developed in a planned manner with equal importance,” he said.
He also emphasised the importance of protecting agricultural land while implementing housing and infrastructure projects, calling for balanced and environmentally sustainable development.
REHAB Presents Reform Proposals
During the meeting, REHAB leaders briefed the Prime Minister on the current state of the real estate sector, challenges to planned urbanisation and practical issues arising from the implementation of the Detailed Area Plan (DAP).
The delegation also presented a number of proposals aimed at supporting the long-term growth of the housing industry.
Among their recommendations were rationalising registration fees for land, plots and apartments, fully digitalising government services related to the housing sector, increasing the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) in a planned manner, and promoting vertical urbanisation to ensure more efficient use of scarce urban land.
Industry Leaders Attend Meeting
The meeting was attended by Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher Sumon, REHAB President Dr Ali Afzal, Vice-President-2 Abu Khalid Mohammad Barkatullah, Eastern Housing Limited Managing Director Md Aminul Karim Siddique, United Group Additional Managing Director Nizamuddin Hasan Rashid, United Group Manager Mushfiqul Alam Khondaker, Rupayan Group Chairman Md Liaquat Ali Khan, Rupayan Group Co-Chairman Mahir Ali Khan Ratul, Amin Mohammad Group Executive Director Abul Kalam Md Rezaul Karim, Century Group Chairman Major General (Retd) Nasir Majumder, US-Bangla Assets Limited Director Brigadier General (Retd) Md Jalal Ghani Khan, Swadesh Properties Limited Managing Director M A Kaiyum, and other leaders of the real estate industry.
