|| Special Correspondent: A 29-member panel has been formed by the Progotishil Abason Baboshayee Parishad, which has also unveiled its manifesto for the upcoming election of the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) for the 2026-2028 terms, scheduled to be held on 18 April.The Parishad announced its panel at a programme in the capital on Saturday, nominating agricultural scientist Dr Md Ali Afzal as its presidential candidate and ARMA Group Chairman Abdur Razzaque as candidate for senior vice-president.Earlier, REHAB Election Board Chairman Md Zahirul Haque Bhuiyan announced a total of 521 voters. Of them, 462 are based in Dhaka and 59 in the Chattogram region.The panel has pledged a comprehensive overhaul of the real estate sector through regulatory simplification, financial incentives and the establishment of a dedicated building technology university.The manifesto, themed “Honesty, Efficiency, and Accountability”, outlines a broad strategy to transform REHAB into a world-class, member-friendly organisation.Call for regulatory reformsA key proposal in the manifesto is to redefine RAJUK’s role as a purely regulatory body, urging it to withdraw from direct participation in the housing market.The panel also plans to advocate a “One City, One Policy” framework for building regulations and calls for the removal of Floor Area Ratio (FAR) restrictions in areas outside critical flight paths or radar zones.To streamline operations, the Parishad has pledged to coordinate more closely with government agencies—including land offices and utility providers—to eliminate bottlenecks in plan approvals.Financial measures and sector supportAddressing financial constraints in the sector, the panel has proposed lobbying for single-digit interest rates on housing loans.To help boost foreign currency reserves, the manifesto suggests introducing cash incentives for member firms when flats are purchased through legal remittance channels.It also plans to explore alternative domestic and international financing sources for project development, reducing reliance on traditional banking systems.The Parishad concluded its manifesto by pledging to improve the image of the real estate sector and demonstrate its role as a “driving force for national development”.