MOST people living in Dhaka do not have their own houses and live in rented houses. There are no rules and regulations for house rents in Dhaka and even if there is, it is not being implemented. The house owners increase house rents every now and then according to their sweet will. The present trend of house rents does not match the pay scales of private service holders and they have to silently suffer the tyranny of the house owners until such time the authorities do not formulate policies regarding house rent. It is high time specific regulations were framed for house rent, may be on the basis of per square meter area, so that no house owner dares charge more.
In 2015, the High Court had directed the government to form a high-power commission within six months to fix area-wise house rent in the metropolitan areas and update the Rent Control Act 1991. I would request the government to look into the matter and take urgent steps to reduce the sufferings of people with limited income who are already hard pressed due to price hike of essentials.
Hannan
Bonosree, Dhaka
