United News of Bangladesh

Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) met Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) Chairman Engineer Riazul Islam on Thursday, pressing for amendments to the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) and broader reforms in the housing sector. REHAB President Ali Afzal led the delegation of board members to RAJUK's headquarters, where senior officials of the authority were also present. Flagging inconsistencies between current DAP provisions and ground realities, Ali Afzal argued the plan needs urgent revision. He called for expanding opportunities for high-rise and planned construction, along the lines of city centres to accommodate modern urbanisation within Dhaka's land constraints. The REHAB president also stressed the need to demarcate separate zones for agriculture, housing, industries and afforestation to ensure planned development across the country, while urging special credit facilities and incentives at the district and upazila levels to promote decentralisation of Dhaka. REHAB Senior Vice President Abdur Razzaque proposed holding a dedicated extended session to address the full range of issues related to DAP and the housing sector. RAJUK Chairman Riazul accepted the proposal and assured participants that such a session will be arranged in due course. “This country belongs to all of us. It is imperative to build a planned and sustainable housing system for everyone,” he said, praising REHAB's role and reaffirming his commitment to working jointly with the association. REHAB Vice Presidents Mohammad Akhtar Biswas and Md Harun-or-Rashid, along with Director Md Mahbubur Rahman and other board members, also shared their views during the meeting.

The High Court has issued a six-month injunction restraining the authorities concerned from disconnecting electricity, gas and water connections to under-construction buildings in Dhaka. The order came in response to a writ petition filed by the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB), seeking protection against the disconnection of utility services at construction sites. According to a media release issued by REHAB on Sunday afternoon, the court directed that during this period, WASA, RAJUK and the power division will not be able to disconnect any utility connections. Crowds surge on final day of REHAB Fair 2025 as buyers seek dream homes The bench of Justice Sikder Mahmudur Razi and Justice Raziuddin Ahmed passed the order recently. During the hearing, REHAB placed before the court the possible adverse impacts of disconnecting utility services. Taking these submissions into account, the court issued the interim order considering humanitarian aspects, including the daily lives of families living in partially constructed buildings and their dependence on water and electricity. In its order, the court said the authorities must refrain from disconnecting electricity lines, water connections or any other utility services for the next six months and maintain the status quo until final disposal of the matter. As a result of the order, owners and developers of the concerned buildings will get immediate relief from potential hardships. The court noted that disconnection of water and electricity often creates severe crises, which it took into consideration while issuing the injunction. REHAB said that over the past few months, more than 1,200 electricity meters were disconnected from various under-construction and partially completed buildings with the assistance of RAJUK, DESCO, DPDC and other power distribution companies. The association claimed that the disconnection of electricity and utility services at developers’ projects had effectively stalled many construction works. As a result, construction activities were halted, workers and related employees lost their jobs, flat handovers were delayed, and developers suffered significant financial losses. It also created complications such as difficulties in repaying bank loans, maintaining contracts with clients and stagnation of investments, which have had an overall negative impact on the housing sector, REHAB added. Citing these realities, REHAB moved the court, which subsequently issued the interim injunction against the authorities concerned.  

Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) has demanded that the government finalise modification to the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) and building regulations within the next 15 days and warned of a movement if it is delayed. REHAB President Md Wahiduzzaman made the demand at a press conference at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka on Wednesday. He said landowners in Dhaka and other major cities have been frustrated since the publication of the ‘discriminatory and flawed’ DAP. “For a long time, we have engaged with government authorities, submitted proposals, and received assurances of necessary revisions,” he said. “However, no effective action has been taken. We have shown patience and refrained from street protests, but our backs are against the wall. Any further delay will force us to take strict action along with landowners and stakeholders,” he said. REHAB Fair set to open December 23 amid housing market slump The REHAB president criticised the new DAP claiming that 80 per cent of Dhaka would remain unplanned under the current framework, creating severe risks for residents. “The new DAP discourages landowners from constructing buildings due to the reduction in floor area ratio (FAR), leading to narrow roads and the continued presence of unhealthy, semi-dilapidated structures,” he said. REHAB Vice Presidents Mohammad Akter Biswas, Eng. Abdul Latif, and Abdur Razzak; Media Committee Chairman Mohammad Labib Billah; and directors Dewan Nasirul Hoque, Md Kamrul Islam, A.F.M. Ubaidullah andMd. Harun Or Rashid and Md Ayub Ali were present.