Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) leaders blamed officials of the Rajdhani Unnyan Kartipakkya (Rajuk) for holding up around 2500 new project designs that have been pending for the last 15 months.

"Because of the lack of design approvals developers cannot start construction work at the sites in a timely way, something that is causing huge financial losses," Engineer Tanveerul Haque Probal, general secretary, REHAB, said at a press conference held at the National Press Club.

Delays mean developers have to face increases in project cost as the prices of construction materials increase day by day, Tanveer added.

He said REHAB will not be able to arrange any housing fair at home or abroad in the future because without having design approval they are unable to showcase projects, as buyers are not interested in investing in unapproved housing projects.

Tanveer said the Rajuk officials have approved more than 9000 designs for individual projects during the period, but they are yet to approve any project put forward by the REHAB members.

Another holdup has been the failure of Rajuk officials to approve any land development proposals since the Private Land Development Policy approved in 2004, he added.

The housing association leaders demanded immediate intervention of the government and the ministry concerned to solve the problem.

They also demanded budgetary measures in the coming budget to support the housing industry in the country.

Mohammad Abdul Awal, president, REHAB, chaired the conference where REHAB members Mokarram Hossain Khan, M Saiful Islam, Syed Sirajul Haque, Sayed M. Akhter and MGR Nasir also attended.