Developers-turned-MPs stand in its way

Private Real Estate Act
Developers-turned-MPs stand in its way
Allege environmentalists, submit memo to PM
Real estate developers turned lawmakers have held back the passage of a proposed private real estate development act, said leading environmental and professional organisations at a press conference yesterday.
Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela), Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa), Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB) and Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) jointly organised the conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity.
Earlier in the morning, leaders of the four organisations submitted a memorandum to the prime minister demanding immediate passage of the Private Real Estate Development and Management Act 2009 to protect consumer interests and save wetlands around the capital.
Delay in placing the bill by the parliamentary standing committee on the housing ministry is creating scope for doing illegal activities by dishonest developers and investment in the illegal housing projects, said the memorandum.
The cabinet approved the proposed law last September and it has been lying with the committee for six months for scrutiny.
Nasrul Hamid Bipu, a ruling party lawmaker in the parliamentary committee, is himself a real estate developer and is contending in ensuing election of Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (Rehab).
“Nobodhara Panel” led by Bipu in the Rehab election, has made an election pledge to prevent the passage of the proposed law with a criminal offence provision against the developers.
Enamul Haque of Ena Properties, another contender in the Rehab election and also an Awami League lawmaker, is also a member of the parliamentary body.
Bapa President Prof Muzaffer Ahmad, Bela Chief Executive Syeda Rizwana Hasan, IAB President Mubasshar Hussein and BIP President Prof Sarwar Jahan signed the memorandum.
The new law aims at bringing an unregulated real estate sector under a legal framework and it will not harm the real estate business, said Rizwana Hasan.
It will also protect consumer interests, she added.
The criminal offence provision must remain in the new law to stop illegal activities by a group of dishonest developers, Rizwana said.
Many innocent consumers have been deceived, wetlands have been earth-filled and grabbed and unauthorised housing projects have been advertised in the absence of such a law, said Bapa member secretary architect Iqbal Habib.
Developers being on the parliamentary committee can’t serve interests of consumers, they said.
Mubasshar Hussein and Prof Sarwar Jahan were also present.

Courtesy of The Daily Star