Act on house rent complaints, HC tells cops

The High Court today ordered police to take steps regarding house rent-related complaints in all the cities including capital Dhaka.
Responding to a petition, the court also asked the cabinet secretary to form a seven-member high-powered commission in six months.
The commission will make necessary recommendations on fixing a standard on the rent amount based on areas and update the House Rent Control Act 1991, the HC said in its order.
The court asked the government to appoint a house rent controller at every ward all over the country for hearing and disposing of the allegations regarding the house rent issues until the commission is formed.
The HC bench of Justice Mohammad Bazlur Rahman and Justice Md Ruhul Quddus asked the officers-in-charge of all police stations to take steps so that any tenant is not evicted by the landlord illegally and arbitrarily.
Rights body Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh filed the petition in April 2010, seeking HC directives on the government for strict enforcement of house rent control act to prevent the capital's house owners from arbitrarily raising and taking in advance rent.