Special Correspondent: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has reaffirmed the government`s commitment to transforming Bangladesh`s housing sector into a transparent, accountable and investment-friendly industry, describing it as one of the country`s key economic drivers.

During a courtesy meeting with a delegation of the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) at the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat on Wednesday, the Prime Minister said the government is pursuing comprehensive reforms to ensure the sector grows in a planned, sustainable and corruption-free manner.

"The housing industry is one of the key drivers of the national economy. Its development is crucial to the country`s overall economic growth," the Prime Minister said, according to his Assistant Press Secretary Abdullah Al Mahmud Shahriar.

He noted that the government has already initiated a series of reforms to curb irregularities in the real estate sector and is taking additional measures to strengthen governance, improve transparency and enhance investor confidence.

Balanced Urban Development

Highlighting the need for balanced national development, Tarique Rahman stressed that urbanisation should not remain concentrated in the capital alone.

"Urbanisation should not remain confined to Dhaka. Other regions of the country must also be developed in a planned manner with equal importance," he said.

The Prime Minister also emphasised the importance of protecting agricultural land while implementing housing and infrastructure projects, underscoring the need to balance economic development with food security and environmental sustainability.

REHAB Raises Industry Challenges

During the meeting, REHAB leaders briefed the Prime Minister on the current state of the housing industry, highlighting challenges related to planned urbanisation, implementation of the Detailed Area Plan (DAP), and barriers affecting long-term sectoral growth.

The association proposed several policy measures aimed at revitalising the industry, including:

Rationalising registration fees for land, plots and apartments.
Fully digitising government services related to the housing sector.
Revising the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) to encourage efficient land use.
Promoting vertical urbanisation to maximise the use of scarce land, particularly in Dhaka.

Industry representatives said these measures would help reduce costs, improve service delivery, attract greater investment and support sustainable urban expansion.

Sector Seen as Economic Growth Engine

The housing and real estate sector is widely regarded as one of Bangladesh`s major contributors to employment and economic activity, supporting dozens of allied industries ranging from construction materials and engineering services to banking, insurance and home furnishings.

Experts say policy consistency, streamlined regulations and digital governance could significantly boost investor confidence and accelerate the sector`s contribution to national development.

High-Level Participation

The meeting was attended by Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher Sumon, REHAB President Dr Ali Afzal, Vice-President Abu Khalid Mohammad Barkatullah, Eastern Housing Limited Managing Director Md Aminul Karim Siddique, United Group Additional Managing Director Nizamuddin Hasan Rashid, Rupayan Group Chairman Md Liaquat Ali Khan, Rupayan Group Co-Chairman Mahir Ali Khan Ratul, Amin Mohammad Group Executive Director Abul Kalam Md Rezaul Karim, Century Group Chairman Major General (Retd) Nasir Majumder, US-Bangla Assets Limited Director Brigadier General (Retd) Md Jalal Ghani Khan, Swadesh Properties Limited Managing Director M A Kaiyum, and other senior representatives of leading real estate companies.

The meeting concluded with both sides expressing optimism that closer collaboration between the government and the private sector would help build a modern, transparent and sustainable housing industry capable of meeting the country`s growing urbanisation needs while contributing to long-term economic growth.