The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) has called for establishing a separate authority to approve the structural designs to ensure the safety of buildings.
FBCCI President Jashim Uddin came up with the suggestions during the first meeting of the Standing Committee on Real Estate and Housing at the federation’s headquarters in Dhaka on Sunday.
Joining the meeting virtually, he said RAJUK approves the architectural design of a building while no agency checks and clears the structural design. “A separate authority should be formed to ensure buildings’ safety.”
“The government also should facilitate automated brick production with policy support to stop pollution from the traditional brickfields. Automated bricks are more affordable,” he added.
The apex trade body chief also urged the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakkha (RAJUK) to revise the new Detailed Area Plan (DAP) for Dhaka city.
After the DAP 2010 expired in 2015 with very little implementation, the government committee tasked with reviewing the plan has recently finalised the second DAP for 2016-2035.
According to media reports, this new DAP aims to ensure eco-friendly land use in specific areas of Dhaka, Narayanganj and Gazipur districts.
Like the first one, RAJUK will implement this one as well to make the capital liveable by overseeing and ensuring environment-friendly housing, smooth transport, drainage, and economic activities, with more rooms for healthcare, education, recreation, and social and civic facilities.
However, while the new DAP remains an unresolved document, the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) has alleged that, if implemented, this plan will push up apartment prices and house rents.
But RAJUK says REHAB has nothing to worry about as the new DAP will be implemented after consulting with all the stakeholders.
During Sunday’s meeting, FBCCI Vice President Amin Helaly said that REHAB should come up with a model village plan that would include all modern facilities to ensure decent living in rural areas.
The trade body’s Vice President Md Habib Ullah Dawn also suggested that REHAB should continue its discussion with the Bangladesh Bank and concerned associations to ease out project loans from the real estate sector.
Taking point, REHAB President Alamgir Shamsul Alamin Kajal, who is also the director in charge of the standing committee, informed the meeting that this sector has become more compliant over the years.
“REHAB members hand over 10,000 flats on average each year. Nearly 270 sub-sectors are directly related to the real estate sector. Therefore, facilitating this sector by the government’s policy support will further develop all the sub-sectors,” he explained.
Chairing the meeting, the committee’s Chairman Liakat Ali Bhuiyan Milan said they would analyse and draft the policy needed to flourish the real estate sector.
The committee’s Co-Chairmen Mohammad Ali Deen, Mohammad Nizam Uddin Jitu, AFM Ubaidullah and Kamal Mahmud, and members addressed the meeting as well.
FBCCI Director Mohammed Bazlur Rahman and Secretary General Mohammad Mahfuzul Hoque, among others, also attended the meeting.
