Bangladesh News

Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan (Bapa) yesterday demanded immediate promulgation of the Real-estate Management Ordinance, 2008 to reduce harassment of property buyers.

The proposed Real-estate Management Ordinance, 2008 is all right and objections raised by developers can be solved through discussions and it has to be done within the shortest possible time, said President of Bapa Prof Muzaffer Ahmad during a press conference held at WVA Auditorium on Dhanmondi Road-27.

“We are not against the reasonable amendment but this ordinance is very important for protecting the interest of property buyers,” he said.

He said it cannot be that a person will not face any punishment for committed crimes.

Vice-president of Bapa and former adviser to a caretaker government ASM Shahjahan said there are many buyers who lost everything after being trapped by dishonest developers. This ordinance is very necessary to protect buyers from harassments and cheats, he said.

Architect Iqbal Habib in a statement said most of the 43 clauses in the proposed ordinance will be acceptable to everybody. A number of them are already under two rules–Land Development Rules for Private Housing Project, 2004 and Building Construction Rules, 2007.

The developers are opposing a number of clauses, including clause-29 and 41, in which punishment for defrauding a client is mentioned to be non-bailable and against which a prayer will be untenable. The punishment has been kept for valid reasons but the criteria for the punishment can be discussed, he said.

He proposed forming of a “dispute solving committee” like the urban development committee under the Building Construction Rules, 2007 to protect the interest of buyers or else the provision of punishment will not protect them.

Participation of representatives from the civil society, entrepreneurs, property buyers, utility service providing agencies and law experts must be ensured in the committee, he added.

Different government organisations like Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha, Dhaka Electric Supply Authority and Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority will also have to be accountable for their negligence and non-cooperation.

General Secretary of Institute of Planners of Bangladesh AKM Abul Kalam said the discussion on the provision of punishment can be held but the government should promulgate the ordinance.