The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Housing and Public Works, Law and Information Adviser Barrister Mainul Hosein said that the association of the housing sector REHAB is playing a vital role in boosting economy of the country.

He said, besides the Government initiatives, the private sector housing companies are playing very important role in resolving housing problems of the common people.

The Adviser said this from Barisal in a telephonic speech at a function organised by the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) on the occasion of the inauguration of REHAB Fair at Hotel Sheraton in the city yesterday.

The Adviser was the chief guest in the REHAB function yesterday. But he was then visiting cyclone Sidr devastated areas in Barisal and Pirojpur and to stand beside the cyclone affected people. He distributed relief among the affected people and encouraged them to reorganise their lives.

He urged all entrepreneurs to come forward and extend their hands for helping the SIDR affected people.

Secretary for Housing and Public Works Ministry ASM Rashidul Hai was present as special guest at the inaugural session.

He urged developers to play a responsible, transparent and accountable role as associate of the Government for implementing a planned urbanisation.

He said contribution of the housing sector is about 14 per cent to the national economic growth. The government receives about Tk 700 crore as annual revenue from this sector. Over 15 lakh workers are involved in the housing sector in the country.

President of REHAB Mukarram Husain Khan chaired the function and announced that the association would spend Tk one crore to help the people affected by the cyclone SIDR.

Chairman of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakkha (RAJUK) KAM Haroon, General Secretary of REHAB Tanveerul Haque Probal, convenor of the fair committee Enamul Haque, among others, were present at the function.

The Adviser returned to the capital from Barisal. He visited the fair venue at 6:00pm yesterday and officially inaugurated the fair by cutting ribbon.

The programmes of the fair will start with extempore speeches by the college students at 11:00am on Wednesday, day-long blood and posthumous eye donation programmes on Thursday at the fair venue of the hotel, painting competition for children on Friday at the Ball Room, REHAB gold crests distribution programme at 7:00pm on Saturday and the closing session of the Fair at 6:30 pm on Sunday at Utsab Hall of Radisson Hotel.

There are 141 stalls in the fair for 136 members of REHAB and five sponsoring institutions. The sponsors are allowed to attend the fair for the first time in its history.

Besides, 11 co-sponsoring institutions are taking part in the fair. The institutions are Concord Real Estate and Building Products Ltd, Eastern Housing Ltd, Mission Energy and Properties Ltd, Rangs Properties Ltd, Sagupta NM Housing Ltd, Shadesh Properties Ltd, East West Property Development (Pvt) Ltd, Ideal Real Estate Ltd, Navana Real Estate Ltd, Rupayan Housing Estate Ltd and Shanta Properties Ltd. 'Father of the Architect of the country' architect Muzharul Islam will be awarded REHAB gold crest this year. Therefore, REHAB will organise a Raffle Draw on December 1. The winners of the draw will be from among the buyers in the fair.

The fair will end on November 25.