Land Dev Assoc for amending DAP

FE Report A section of land developers at a roundtable Saturday came down heavily on media, environmentalists and government for, what they said hindering their work. Bangladesh Land Developers Association (BLDA) and the daily Kaler Kantho jointly organised the roundtable on "Problems and Prospects of the Housing Sector" at a city hotel. BDLA treasurer Abdus Samad presided over the function. Former foreign secretary Waliur Rahman conducted the function, which was addressed, among others, by Dr Md Alamgir Alam of Jamuna Group, Syed Belayet Hossain of Amin Mohammad Foundation and representatives of different housing companies. BLDA Law Reform and Policy Recommendation Sub-Committee's chairman MGR Nasir presented a key-note paper at the function. Abdus Samad in its written welcome speech said the real estate sector was passing a crucial time. Functions of the sector became stagnant due to many legal problems and non-cooperation from the government though it accounts for 21 per cent contribution to the national economy, he said. Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakhha (Rajuk), a statutory body, is responsible for facilitating the real estate companies, Abdus Samad said, but Rajuk itself appeared as a competitor, creating an unequal competition in the sector. As a government institution, Rajuk's direct participation in the real estate business is immoral, he said. Terming some rules of the 'Development Regulations for Non-Government Residential Project 2004' against dynamic and modern housing sector, MGR Nasir demanded of the government to amend the rules. The developers strongly criticised the Detailed Area Plan (DAP). They alleged that the housing representatives were not consulted in preparing the DAP.