Photo: Collected
The Bangladesh Land Developers Association (BLDA) has called on the government to take effective steps to shut down all illegal housing projects, including four that have sprung up in and around Purbachal. The four projects are Well Care Housing, London Housing, Ascent Town and Ananda Housing.
In a statement signed by the association’s secretary AKM Nowsherul Alam, the BLDA said effective action against the housing projects that have been built in and around Purbachal without proper government approval and clearance from the relevant authorities is now the need of the hour.
According to the statement, buying and selling land, allotting plots, carrying out unplanned land development and running housing projects without approval are exposing ordinary buyers to financial and legal risk. This is hampering the government’s planned urbanisation, environmental protection and infrastructure development. At the same time, the image of legitimate and registered developers is being tarnished, and they are facing a crisis of confidence.
In this situation, the BLDA has strongly urged the ministries concerned, Rajuk and the administration to take the following steps:
1. Identify unapproved housing projects and take the necessary action in accordance with the law.
2. Conduct regular drives to stop the illegal sale and allotment of plots.
3. Protect the interests of ordinary buyers and ensure the safety of their investment.
4. Ensure a level playing field and a fair business environment for approved and law-abiding housing companies.
5. Strengthen coordinated monitoring by the authorities concerned to ensure planned urbanisation of Purbachal and its surrounding areas.
The BLDA believes that both the growth of a law-abiding housing sector and the control of illegal activities are extremely important for the country’s economic development and for protecting the public interest. The organisation also said it is ready to work in coordination with the government and extend full cooperation to build a planned, safe and lawful housing sector.
Background
A report in The Business Standard of 16 November 2021 said projects such as Probashi Palli Group Housing, Swarnali Housing and Purbachal American City at Naora in Rupganj, near the Purbachal New Town, were alleged to have been developed without approval from Rajuk and the Department of Environment.
By the numbers
According to the same report, there were about 1,500 illegal housing projects across the country in 2021, more than 400 of them in and around the capital.
Sources
Original report: Bangladesh Pratidin
Background sources: The Business Standard, 16 November 2021
