The Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) on Saturday said no one from REHAB is involved in the foreign company’s advertisement campaign to buy apartments in Dubai.
“We confirm you that no REHAB member is involved in it. We strongly protested it and our rapid action forced them to shut their operation here,” REHAB vice president Liakat Ali Bhuiyan told reporters at a press conference at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel.
After the meeting, he, however, said certainly there were some people from Bangladesh but nobody new who they were. “I believe it will come out one day,” the leader said thanking the Bangladesh Bank for its rapid reaction over the issue.
Recently, Dubai-based DAMAC Properties offered luxury apartments, villa, condominiums and town houses in the UAE city for sale and planned for an exhibition here which was later cancelled.
The press conference was arranged to brief media about the three-day “REHAB Housing Fair New York 2013” to be held at the Soundview Broadcasting Avenue, Actoria in New York city from September 1 to 3.
REHAB general secretary M Wahiduzzaman read out a written statement outlining the fair while Vice-Presidents Maj Gen (retd) M Abdur Rashid, Joint Treasurer Engineer M Ansat Ali, Executive Committee Members M Mostafa Shahid and M Abu Bakar Siddique and Fair Convener M Anwaruzzaman were present.
Wahiduzzaman said the fair will be held with the slogan, ‘Earning Abroad, Housing Back at Home’ which will be the 11th version of the fair in New York.
“The real estate companies will present their best products for the expatriates to get their dream house at their homeland,” he said.
The REHAB leader said the sector is regaining momentum slowly after the budget announcement and mentioned that still there are a number of challenges that need to be addressed.
“Political instability, absence of loan facility with flexible conditions and electricity with conditions are still big barriers to the country’s housing sector,” Wahiduzzaman said.
The REHAB leader said they expect immediate steps to resolve those problems.
Organisers said it is an effort to facilitate the REHAB members and clients by bringing both on the same platform.
The REHAB members will join the fair with their approved projects and the event will help disseminate information about the real estate sector and the present scenario of Bangladesh to the valued clients and visitors which expected to help them make the right choices for a “dream home” in Bangladesh.
Some 50 companies will participate in the fair to attract prospective Bangladeshi-origin US citizens to buy apartments and plots back at home.
A code of conduct has already been set for the members and they will keep their approved certificates in favour of their projects in the stall, which is mandatory.
Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA Akramul Qader will inaugurate the fair as the chief guest. Consul General Monirul Islam will also attend it.
With the increasing housing demand amid the growing population, “apartment culture” has grown in the country, especially in Dhaka and Chittagong.
The apartment housing was first introduced in capital Dhaka by formal private developers in the early 1980s. Currently, buyers are more interested in buying flats than building their own houses, industry insiders say.