Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – The five-day Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) Fair 2011 started in the capital Dhaka on Thursday aiming to attract prospective buyers and promote the housing sector.

State Minister for Housing and Public Works Abdul Mannan Khan was chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the fair. REHAB President Nasrul Hamid Khan Bipu presided over the function.

Speaking at the inaugural session, Mr. Mannan urged the developers to support the government initiatives of meeting the housing demand of the city dwellers. The government is going to develop some 40,933 plots and 25,383 flats across the country, including Dhaka and Chittagong, he added.

Some 281 real estate and housing companies and two financial institutions are participating at the

A stall has also been allotted to Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK), the city’s housing authority, for the first time. Buyers will be able to know whether an apartment or a land project is authorized or not.

REHAB President Nasrul Hamid Bipu said, the real estate companies will sell flats, which are approved by the RAJUK, in the fair. If any company sells unapproved flats, it will not be allowed to take part in the next two fairs, he noted.

The show opens to visitors from 10:00am to 9:00pm on Friday, from 6:00pm to 10:00pm on Saturday, from 1:00pm to 10:00pm on Sunday and from 10:00am to 9:00pm on Monday, the concluding day.

Single entry fee of the fair is BDT 50, and multiple entry fee is BDT 100.

BBN/SSR/AD-16Dec11-1:30 am (BST)