The New Nation - Internet Edition

Chittagong Correspondent

Chairman of Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) Shah Mohammad Akhteruddin said here yesterday that the real estate people and the developers should take up housing projects for addressing the fast growing accommodation crisis in the urban areas.

Praising the role of developers in the recent decade he said that the REHAB had done excellent job in addressing the housing problem though mostly aimed at the wealthier section. He called upon the developers to take up projects focusing the low and middle-income people.

He pledged all possible support from the CDA to the future housing and apartment projects if dedicated for the fixed income people.

He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the three-day second REHAB fair as the chief guest at the premises of Institute of Engineers Bangladesh (IEB), Chittagong.

Chairman of the IEB here in Chittagong Engineer M Ali Ashraf addressed the inaugural ceremony as the special guest while President of the REHAB (Real Estate Housing Association Bangladesh) Mokaram Hossain Khan presided over it. Convener of the fair Kazi Aynul Haq, Chairman of the fair standing committee architect Sayed Sirajul Haq and General Secretary of the REHAB Engineer Tanvirul Haq Probal addressed it among others.

He informed that an amended building code, which is totally different from RAJUK, had already been sent to Dhaka for approval and it would help reshaping the port city in a planned way.

Chairman of the IEB in Chittagong Engineer M Ali Ashraf quoting recent census said that there had been .7 million families in the city.

Nearly 130 thousand apartments and 13 thousand plots were needed to address the demand of the population in 2001.

He suggested the promoters to lease out apartments to the people mainly depended on rented house at the monthly turn over of their house rent.

The REHAB bigwigs demanded a comprehensive policy for the housing projects in Chittagong what would safeguard the port city's natural beauty and environment.

Co-sponsored by Keary Ltd, Navana Real Estate Ltd and Rangs Properties Ltd, the fair accommodates 45 stalls including a number of commercial banks.