Affordable housing: REHAB for Tk 20,000cr refinancing fund

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UNB, Dhaka :
The Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) wants the government to form a Tk 20,000 crore housing loan refinancing fund to help lower- and middle-income groups solve their housing problem.
The realtors want to hear a positive decision in the upcoming budget as they have long been demanding for such a fund. “We’ve a number of budgetary proposals for the housing sector. Reducing registration fee and formation of refinancing fund are among the important proposals which we want to see are reflected on budget documents,” REHAB vice president Liakat Ali Bhuiyan told UNB. REHAB demanded that plot and apartment registration fee be reduced to 7 percent from the existing 17 percent. Liakat Ali said they also demanded the authorities bring down bank interest rate for the housing sector bank loans. He said Finance Minister AMA Muhith assured them of addressing their demand. “Let’s see.” REHAB sources said they want the government allow undisclosed money into the housing sector. They demanded that the scope be given to buyers to buy first apartment without asking them the source of money and restoration of Section of income Tax Ordinance, 1984 19B.
The section of the ordinance, according to REHAB, reads ‘notwithstanding anything contained in this Ordinance or any other law for the time being in force, no question as to the source of any sum invested by any person in the construction or purchase of any building or apartment shall be raised if the assesse pays, before the assessment is completed for the relevant assessment year, tax at the rate.’