Fate of city high-rises hinges on review body recommendations
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
Fazlur Rahman
The private real estate developers have to wait until a review committee submits its findings on whether the realtors would be allowed to build over 10 floors in Dhaka, officials said Monday.
The news came following the realtors' allegation that Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) has stopped approving designs of buildings exceeding 10 floors in the capital without citing any reason.
But the state-owned developer said the decision was taken after the capital's area-based citizens' bodies complained that the mushrooming high-rise buildings were spoiling the area's residential character.
"Area-based citizens' bodies like Gulshan and Dhanmondi societies have complained that the residential areas are being gradually turned into commercial areas through construction of multi-storied buildings," said Rajuk chairman Nurul Huda.
"They have complained that the residential areas are losing its residential character due to increasing commercial activities. Besides, the environment is also being threatened," he told the FE Monday.
Mr Huda however said a review committee has already been formed under the city development committee to look into the issue. "We will take a final decision on the matter on the basis of the recommendations of the review committee."
Rajuk chief hoped the review committee would soon submit its findings.
City Development Committee, which comprises representatives of Rajuk, Dhaka City Corporation, Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), civil society and the press, looks after the issue the state-run organ cannot work out alone.
Early this week, the realtors alleged they are "baffled, shocked and worried" about the future of their investments as Rajuk has stopped approving designs of high-rise buildings, virtually halting the vertical expansion of the city.
"In the last one month, Rajuk has not okayed a single design of our projects that go beyond 10 floors," Tanveerul Haque Probal, president of REHAB, said at a press conference in the city Saturday.
"We've invested tens of billions of taka in purchasing land for mega projects. Yet, there is no clear decision from the authorities whether they would permit construction of high-rise buildings," he said.
Mr Probal said the realtors have undertaken high-rise projects in line with the country's building codes, leaving 30 per cent space unused. "But Rajuk still would not approve the projects. We don't know why this is happening."
REHAB, which includes 589 private developers, has sought immediate government intervention in the approval process, warning that the foot-dragging by the authorities could have ripple effects in the country's housing industry.
Housing and real estate industry is a key component in the country's construction sector that accounts for 12 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The private real estate developers have to wait until a review committee submits its findings on whether the realtors would be allowed to build over 10 floors in Dhaka, officials said Monday.
The news came following the realtors' allegation that Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) has stopped approving designs of buildings exceeding 10 floors in the capital without citing any reason.
But the state-owned developer said the decision was taken after the capital's area-based citizens' bodies complained that the mushrooming high-rise buildings were spoiling the area's residential character.
"Area-based citizens' bodies like Gulshan and Dhanmondi societies have complained that the residential areas are being gradually turned into commercial areas through construction of multi-storied buildings," said Rajuk chairman Nurul Huda.
"They have complained that the residential areas are losing its residential character due to increasing commercial activities. Besides, the environment is also being threatened," he told the FE Monday.
Mr Huda however said a review committee has already been formed under the city development committee to look into the issue. "We will take a final decision on the matter on the basis of the recommendations of the review committee."
Rajuk chief hoped the review committee would soon submit its findings.
City Development Committee, which comprises representatives of Rajuk, Dhaka City Corporation, Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), civil society and the press, looks after the issue the state-run organ cannot work out alone.
Early this week, the realtors alleged they are "baffled, shocked and worried" about the future of their investments as Rajuk has stopped approving designs of high-rise buildings, virtually halting the vertical expansion of the city.
"In the last one month, Rajuk has not okayed a single design of our projects that go beyond 10 floors," Tanveerul Haque Probal, president of REHAB, said at a press conference in the city Saturday.
"We've invested tens of billions of taka in purchasing land for mega projects. Yet, there is no clear decision from the authorities whether they would permit construction of high-rise buildings," he said.
Mr Probal said the realtors have undertaken high-rise projects in line with the country's building codes, leaving 30 per cent space unused. "But Rajuk still would not approve the projects. We don't know why this is happening."
REHAB, which includes 589 private developers, has sought immediate government intervention in the approval process, warning that the foot-dragging by the authorities could have ripple effects in the country's housing industry.
Housing and real estate industry is a key component in the country's construction sector that accounts for 12 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).