Be compliant to regain consumer confidence

Housing and public works minister SM Rezaul Karim has said realtors must follow rules and regulations relevant to construction to regain consumer confidence.

"Some developers violate rules while constructing residential buildings, much to the complexities of flat owners," he cited.

Mr Karim made the observations at the inaugural ceremony of a five-day REHAB Fair at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre on Wednesday.

He said real culprits often remain outside the purview of law-enforcement agencies due to legal loopholes.

"The number of fraudsters in the sector is quite poor, but they tarnish the entire sector's image," he added.

National Board of Revenue (NBR) chairman Md Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan attended the ceremony as the guest of honour.

REHAB president Alamgir Shamsul Alamin, senior vice-president Nurun Nabi Chowdhury and vice-president Liakat Ali Bhuiyan, among others, spoke at the event.

Mr Karim exhorted the REHAB leaders to help the government take action against the fake realtors.

"Apprise us of fraud developers so that we can take a firm line on them," he said, adding: "There is no one mightier than the government."

The minister pledged to consider the REHAB's demand for land at Purbachal housing project so the realtors can make low-cost flats for insolvent families.

Meanwhile, the NBR chief said a few wicked businessmen are developing flats discounting the building codes.

"Those fraud businessmen are not REHAB members. Many commoners are becoming victims of their irregularities in the sector," he said.

The chief of the tax-collecting agency pledged to provide all-out support for honest businessmen.

He, however, requested the realtors to register flats showing their actual prices.

Mr Bhuiyan said the new Value Added Tax (VAT) Act is likely to take effect from next fiscal following necessary amendments.

Meanwhile, REHAB leaders at the programme reiterated their demand for reducing property registration cost to below 8.0 per cent from existing 16 per cent.

They also demanded that the government provide them with land to build low-cost flats for the poor. Following inauguration, the guests and dignitaries visited different stalls of the REHAB Fair 2019.

According to organisers, there are 203 stalls in the exposition, including 20 construction material providers and 14 financial institutions.

The event will remain open to visitors from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm until Sunday.

The REHAB is offering two types of tickets for single and multiple entries at Tk 50 and Tk 100 respectively.

A visitor will get access to the fair five times with a multiple entry ticket. The REHAB has been organising the fair in the capital since 2001.

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