Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher said Bangladesh will no longer allow construction of buildings or housing projects that violate laws or depart from approved designs. He made the remarks on Sunday at the Secretariat during an exchange meeting with members of the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) and the Bangladesh Land Developer Association. The report was published on August 23, 2026.

Taher said laws, rules and policies governing building construction had not been properly implemented over the past 17 years. He said approved building plans include sewage treatment plants and soak wells, but many developer companies had not built them. He called on members of both industry bodies to ensure that no buildings or housing projects are developed in breach of the law.

RAJUK is bringing its full land-use clearance and design-approval process under digitalisation, Taher said. He added that rules of the National Housing Authority would be amended to bring developer companies outside the capital under specific policies. State Minister Ahmmad Sohel Manzur urged developers to consider customers’ hardships, including delayed handovers and delayed refunds. Industry leaders voiced support for legal compliance and presented views on DAP and Dhaka building rules.