None will be allowed to run business in the housing sector if the company does not become a member of the Real Estate & Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB), said Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed yesterday.

He made the comments while inaugurating REHAB Fair 2017 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka, said the association in a statement. 

The minister assured the association that he would talk to the finance minister to solve various problems confronting the sector. 

Nasrul Hamid, state minister for power and energy, said the government would start providing gas connections to industrial units from April next year.

Some 205 stalls have been set up at the five-day fair, also being participated by 30 building materials suppliers and 13 financial institutions.

Participating realtors are offering opportunities to help customers buy flats and plots at discounted prices if the properties are bought in a one-off payment.

The fair is open to visitors from 10am to 9pm with an entry fee of Tk 50. However, a multiple-entry ticket priced at Tk 100 will allow a visitor to enter the fair venue five times. 

Nurun Nabi Chowdhury Shaon, acting president of the association, said the fair would create a bridge between buyers and sellers.

REHAB's First Vice-president Liakat Ali Bhuiyan, Vice-president for finance Mohd Shohel Rana and directors Md Shakil Kamal Chowdhury and Kamal Mahmud were present on the occasion.

REHAB has 1,191 members.