Interviewed by Rafikul Islam
Alamgir Shamsul Alamin says the UN goal of leaving no one behind won’t be attained if people remain homeless.
In view of scarcity in housing facilities in both urban and rural area of Bangladesh, it is quite a complicated task for the government alone to provide housing for all. So, here comes the contribution of the private sector to ensuring affordable housing for all. “We are keen to support the government here but land has to be allotted by developers to facilitate construction for affordable accommodations,” President of Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) Alamgir Shamsul Alamin said in an exclusive interview with Ceramic Bangladesh. The demand for housing is going up in the country as the population is increasing. The country has a vast areas of khas land, which, he argued, can be utilized for building homes at reasonable costs. The REHAB leader insisted that special fund should be created under the national budget to help low-income group of people to own house. Mr Alamgir Shamsul Alamin, serving REHAB for the fourth time as its President, mentioned that since its inception in 1991, the REHAB has been playing an important role in the sector and contributing to economic development. The real estate sector is expanding gradually, thanks to the economic growth under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he pointed out, “But we had to deal with many problems in the recent past. The Covid-19, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the price rise of construction materials hit hard the sector. Now we are trying to go ahead overcoming all these challenges,” the REHAB president said. The REHAB has nearly 1,000 members and there is a total of around Tk 1200 billion investment in the sector. “We have 269 linkage industries including rod, cement and ceramic products. Around 4 million people are directly engaged in the sector,” he added.
Ceramic Bangladesh (CB): What is your consistent success in integrating and strengthening REHAB?
Alamgir Shamsul Alamin : I have been elected the REHAB’s President for the fourth time. I am serving the organisation with reputation. I am also a Director of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI). After becoming the REHAB President, I have contributed much to the sector, such as reducing registration costs, and legalising undisclosed investments. As the President, I have to maintain a lot of issues of the REHAB. I try to resolve the problems of our sector. I am always thinking about the future of our industry.
CB: How did you engage in trade body politics?
Alamgir Shamsul Alamin: I wanted to be at the top of domestic trade bodies so that I could influence trade policies/rules. Business is our main goal. Generally the business leaders help policymakers to make policy. If we can’t play role here, we don’t have personal issue. So, we think always to develop organisation and sector as well. Actually it is tough to do business if we can’t bring facility for the sector. If I can contribute here, our business would grow. Besides, I obtained degree from abroad so our thinking is different compared to others. So, our contribution should be counted in economy. In such a context, I engage myself in the trade body politics.
CB: What are the current challenges in the real estate sector?
Alamgir Shamsul Alamin: Real estate is a big and complex sector. It is a very challenging business in Bangladesh. There are different classes of business in the country. Many segments have different challenges and demands. Like every other sector, there are some good and bad businesses in real estate. Sometimes developers can’t complete projects when clients don’t pay properly. Sometimes projects are not completed due to developers’ negligence. It’s tough to meet all of the challenges. As the leader, I have to take care of these issues.
Our problems were at peak after the Covid-19 pandemic made landfall in Bangladesh. Amid the challenges, we managed to save our sector by working together. All had to understand that the situation was not under our control. It was not easy to satisfy customers and developers both. But we did that successfully. Being the REHAB President, I have resolved many of them by discussing them with the government and other stakeholders. Meanwhile, flat prices went up 30 per cent due to price-hike of raw material. And it has impact on our costing. So, prices of apartments go up – 30 per cent a year, which is a big challenge for the real estate sector. After becoming the REHAB president, I have worked hard to contribute as much as I can. All I think about is further development of our sector and its future.
CB: Would you please tell us something about the success story of your own business?
Alamgir Shamsul Alamin : Now, I am engaged in multiple businesses. Actually, I entered into business through my family hand. I was born in a family of businessmen. My father was a well-known businessman back in the Pakistan days. So, I always dreamt of becoming a businessman. Jute, tea, leather, textiles, and transportation were our primary business. We got into the real estate business in 1995. During my student years, I became involved in politics. I studied in several countries, including Scotland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. On completion of my education, I returned home. And, I maintained the family business by expanding and diversifying. Our business has grown 10 times. I want to ensure further growth in future. Now, I plan for a new joint venture investment of Tk 10 billion in the IT sector.
CB: What are the current projects of Shamsul Alamin Real Estate Limited (SARE)?
Alamgir Shamsul Alamin: The SARE is a sister concern of Shamsul Alamin Group. I am Managing Director of the company. We have a good number of projects which are ongoing at different sites of Dhaka. Our ongoing projects are Alamin Tonmoy at Baridhara Diplomatic Zone; Alamin Angur at Gulshan-1; Alamin Springfield at Bashundhara R/A; Alamin Primrose at Uttara; Alamin Nusrat Garden at Uttara’s Sector-7; Alamin Azmal Felicita at Mirpur; Plaza 15 at Uttara’s Sector-13; and Alamin Capital Square at Kakrail. All our projects are architecturally excellent. The projects are expected to be handed over by 2023 and 2024. Apart from the projects, the SARE is going to take three more projects in Mirpur-14, Banani-11, and Kakrail areas. Some projects will be decorated as green apartments.
CB: Do you look for government policy support to boost the real estate sector?
Alamgir Shamsul Alamin: We will soon be graduated from the status of Least Developed Country (LDCs) and the graduation will require massive investments to develop the country as a whole, not just Dhaka. Development of infrastructure, roads, power, energy and education will all require more investment. We cannot achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of leaving no one behind if we keep people homeless. In the given context, the government should allocate a special fund in the national budget to provide home loans to low-income groups, and also give allotment of land to developers so that they can build affordable flats. The real estate sector won’t further develop except government policy support.
CB: What’s your suggestion for the next generation?
Alamgir Shamsul Alamin: I would recommend that our young generation should start job as entrepreneur, and go ahead to do business, without being afraid. We have to overcome all challenges successfully, and move our country forward.
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