Rajuk move to limit consulting firms to create monopoly

By curbing thousands of existing professional engineers and architects' businesses, Rajuk plans to engage a limited number of 'eligible' firms for providing building designs to the people, sources said.
According to the sources if Rajuk finally implements the new procedure people would be restricted in their choice for getting building designs.
A source in a consulting firm said currently more than 10,000 professional architects and engineers are providing services in the Rajuk area, giving designs in different categories.
He said currently the professionals are engaged in giving designs in building structure, architecture, plumbing, electromechanical, fire and in other areas.
Most of them are registered by Bangladesh Professional Engineers Registration Board (BPERB) and they are much more qualified to provide services, the source said.
A source in the Public Works Department (PWD) said the move by Rajuk of limiting the number of consulting firms would create monopoly in the market and costs of getting services would be higher.
He said, "I think this would be ridiculous step by Rajuk if they still think of going ahead with this procedure."
The PWD source said, "I do not understand the Rajuk move. When there are thousands of BPERB registered professionals, why is Rajuk planning to limit the services to a particular number of firms?"
A private consulting firm owner requesting anonymity said, "I smell something fishy in such move by Rajuk."
He said the authority wants to limit services among some entrepreneurs who will invest more in their firms, this will force to go to them and pay high charges.
He said, "Currently I myself and other consulting firms are giving designs to the people. But if a few people start dominating the whole business in the Rajuk area it will create monopoly and the individual professionals will become unemployed."
Rajuk Member Abdul Mannan, said, "We have planned to provide registration to some eligible firms for providing building designs to avoid accidents."
He said, "We are not going to stop the existing firms and individual professional consultants but people must get designs from the accredited firms or by Rajuk-registered firms."
He said only the eligible firms would be allowed by the authority after assessing their strengths, qualification and other compliances.
An expert panel would assess the overall quality of the firms that would be registered by Rajuk to provide building designs.
The Rajuk member said people would get one stop service at such registered firms.
He said there would be coordination among the architects, engineers and other professionals in the Rajuk registered firms and it will help avoid risks in construction of buildings and other establishments.
Another source in the Rajuk said people have to get building designs from the Rajuk approved firms and also from other firms accredited with professional organisations.
Mr. Mannan said any consulting, construction, architecture or other engineering firms can apply for getting Rajuk's registration and only the firms who will comply with Rajuk requirements would get approval.
He said for maintaining compliance Rajuk will also welcome joint venture firms to be registered under it so that people would get quality services and the designs would be safe and qualitative.
Another PWD source said as per compliance criteria of the Rajuk only a few firms would be capable to maintain their conditions and it would require huge investments.
He said only the big firms with huge investments would be capable to meet Rajuk demands.