The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a roundtable on Sunday called for a series of measures to reduce the cost of construction of housing with a view to implementing the fundamental rights of shelter of citizens of the country.

They underscored the need for government-private partnership to reduce the cost of housing and take it within the reach of average citizens.

The roundtable organised by housing magazine Ghorbari was participated by leaders of Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB), editors, senior journalists and social workers.

Prof Shamsher Ali, Vice-Chancellor, South East University attended as chief guest. Ershad Majumder, Chief Editor, Gharbari, moderated the roundtable which was presided over by Mostafa Kamal Majumder, Editor, The New Nation. Mokarram Hossain Khan, president, Tanvirul Haque Probal, general secretary, REHAB, Towfiq M Siraj, president, Institute of Planners, Alamgir Mohiuddian, Editor, Daily Nayadiganta, AKM Rafiqunnabi, Managing Director, Crescent Housing, FR Khan, Managing Director, Asset Development Ltd, Afsaruddin Ansari, senior journalist, Daily Ittefaq, Tazul Islam, Managing Director, Anwar Landmark, Habibullah, Joint Secretary, Bangladesh Steel Mills and Re-rolling Association, took part in the discussion.

Earlier, Belayet Hossain presented a paper on behalf of Abdul Awal, Managing Director, Structural Engineers Ltd, at the roundtable.

They said that the government may help bring down the cost of housing by allocating Khas land free of cost or on a nominal price for constructing buildings. They opined that the government should not allocate extensive plot of land to the individuals any more and instead encourage builders of high-rise building to provide housing to many people on small plot of land. Rich people should be encouraged to live outside the capital. Transport facilities should be developed in a way that people living in sattelite towns outside the city can easily commute to and from the city.

They also called for reduction of duty on the import of raw materials and to reduce the production cost of MS rod, a vital material for construction of high-rise building.

They also urged the government to finalise and enforce a land use policy so that valuable agricultural lands do not continue to be encroached for construction of homes.