Dhaka — The capital’s development authority has signalled a willingness to revisit one of the real estate sector’s most contentious policies, as the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) met Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) Chairman Engineer Riazul Islam to press for amendments to the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) and broader reforms across the housing sector.
REHAB President Ali Afzal led the delegation of board members to RAJUK’s headquarters, where senior officials of the authority were also present. The meeting comes amid mounting frustration among private developers, who argue that current DAP provisions have constrained construction and slowed an already cooling market.
Flagging what he described as a gap between policy and practice, Afzal argued the plan needs urgent revision, calling for expanding opportunities for high-rise and planned construction, along the lines of city centres, to accommodate modern urbanisation within Dhaka’s land constraints.
The REHAB chief also pushed for a more structured approach to national development. He stressed the need to demarcate separate zones for agriculture, housing, industries and afforestation to ensure planned development across the country, while urging special credit facilities and incentives at the district and upazila levels to promote decentralisation of Dhaka.
The DAP has long been a flashpoint between developers and regulators. Industry leaders have contended that restrictions on building size and floor area under the plan reduce buildable space and push flat prices higher, dampening buyer demand at a time when the sector is contending with elevated interest rates, rising construction costs, and registration expenses.
RAJUK’s openness to collaboration marks a potential turning point. For developers who have spent years lobbying for changes to the plan, the chairman’s engagement offers the clearest signal yet that reform may be on the table — though the scope and timeline of any amendments remain to be defined.
