"In the country, almost all the buildings are being constructed by individuals without proper knowledge in construction, which has to be stopped by the government's initiative," said the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (Rehab) leader.

He was speaking at a view exchange meeting with the journalists at a city hotel yesterday on the success and economic significance of the recently organised Rehab Overseas Housing Fair in London and New York.

He claimed that the Rehab members construct buildings following appropriate guidelines, including proper soil test, but their projects represent less than one percent of the total construction in the country.

Referring to the recent garment factory collapse in Savar, Rehab president said, "It should be identified who constructed the building, who was the engineer, whether the labourers were trained up or not."

He said the recently organised two overseas housing fairs received bookings of flats, plots and commercial spaces worth Tk 165 crore. It also received commitment of purchase worth Tk 200 crore from the New York fair and Tk 80 crore from the one in London from more than 50,000 visitors, he added.

Being inspired by the success of the first ever overseas fair in New York last year, the developers, as part of their plan to organise such event every year, organised the fair to embark on new marketing missions.

In a bid to woo the non-resident Bangladeshis, Rehab is planning to organise such fairs in Japan, Dubai and other countries, where most of the expatriate Bangladeshis live, the Rehab leaders said.

Among others, Rehab General Secretary Engineer Mahmudul Hassan, Vice President SM Anwar Hossain, Joint Secretary Tanveerul Haque Probal and Organising Secretary Rabiul Haque attended the meeting.