High prices upset visitors at Ctg housing fair

Hopeful visitors at the three-day housing fair in Chittagong had to leave disheartened due to the high prices this year.
One such visitor was Abul Hashem, a bank employee, who came to purchase a flat at heart of the city, the GEC Circle.
But his spirit was dampened when he learnt of the price of flats from visiting different stalls: a flat of around 1,200 square feet (sq ft) would set him back by upwards of Tk 60 lakh.
When contacted, the housing companies said the flat prices would have to be dear given the higher construction costs at present.
“If we maintain the quality of the buildings and business ethics, we can not offer flats at a cheap rate,” said Sanjay Paul, head of marketing of Secure Proper Management Ltd.
“Those who are offering flats at low prices are either deceiving the customers or are incurring losses,” Paul added.
Paul, whose company has 7 projects underway in different parts of the city, said flats ranging from 1,100 sq ft to 1,350 sq ft, depending upon the location, cost Tk 40 lakh to Tk 60 lakh.
The fair, in its tenth edition, was held at the Chittagong Indoor Gymnasium from October 11 to 13.