The Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) election took place on Tuesday after a long period. Against 29 director posts in Dhaka and Chattogram, Abasan Oikya Parishad has won 25.
The panel, led by Japan Garden City Managing Director and REHAB former general secretary Wahiduzzaman, who got the most votes (248), and Brick Works Wax Limited Chairman Liakat Ali Bhuiyan have won 23 out of 26 directorships in Dhaka and two out of three in Chattogram.
Besides, Building Technology & Ideas Ltd (BTI) Advisor Arshi Haider, Hamid Real Estate Managing Director Enthekhabul Hamidand and others emerged victorious.
Chairman of the election board and Commerce Ministry Joint Secretary Subrata Kumar Dey announced the results saying, ”Election process went smoothly. Out of 476 votes, 409 or 85.92 per cent, were cast, with 371 of them deemed valid, while 38 votes were cancelled.”
Voting in the biennial election for 2024-26 tenure began at 10am at the Krishibid Institute of Bangladesh (KIB), and continued till 4pm.
In Dhaka, 86 candidates contested for 29 director posts, while in Chattogram, seven candidates contested for three director positions.
Four panels are focusing on the election. The panels include “Abasan Prasad Oikya Parishad”, “Developers Forum” led by Century Realty Chairman MGR Nasir Majumder, “Navajagaran Panel” led by former REHAB vice president Nazrul Islam, and “Joyer Dhara Panel” led by former senior vice-president and Hamid Real Estate Construction MD Enthekhabul Hamid.
According to the data, 131 votes were cast in the first hour of polling. The total votes cast till 1pm are 270. Then 46 votes were cast between 1-2pm, and 41 votes in the last hour from 3-4pm.
At the end of November 2023, the Ministry of Commerce suspended the tenure extension of the REHAB committee and appointed an administrator. Ministry of Commerce Deputy Secretary Jannatul Ferdous assumed the role of administrator. Subsequently, a new REHAB election commission was constituted, and the schedule was announced.
However, despite concerns raised by several candidates about potential pressure on polling day, the commission stated that the voting process was carried out smoothly without any issues.
