Real estate leaders call for revision to DAP, building rules

The real estate leaders are calling for amendments to the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) and the existing rules for building construction to ensure accommodation for all and promote the sector's sustainable development.

"We're drawing the attention of the Rajuk and related ministries to formulate housing sector-friendly rules by resolving the conflicting issues," said Alamgir Shamsul Alamin, former president of the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB). 

Real estate businesses are not against the DAP or building construction but some issues have become a big concern for them, Alamgir told a Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) meeting of its standing committee on the sector. He is the director-in-charge of the committee.

To keep flat and land registration costs affordable, the business leaders also called for removing complications linked to project approval, eliminating discrimination in determining floor area ratio (FAR) based on area, relaxing height restrictions in building construction, and ensuring bank loans. 

Addressing the meeting as the chief guest, FBCCI President Mahbubul Alam mentioned that some organisations or individuals, who are not Rehab members, are also involved in the housing business. 

"The reputation of businessmen in this sector is being ruined due to the fraud of just a few organisations. We've to work on these issues," he said. 

He also urged the REHAB to be strict about dishonest traders.

Mahbubul suggested stepping up monitoring by the authorities concerned to control construction material prices to keep the price of flats within the reach of the common people. 

At the meeting, Mohammad Nizam Uddin, the standing committee's chairman, invited specific advice from the committee members to resolve the existing crisis in the housing sector.