Low and middle income people in Dhaka and other cities are hard-hit by the house rent amid the economic hardship, thus causing their exodus to village home that paves the way for a further spread of coronavirus.

A majority of the city dwellers live in rented houses, paying a lion’s share of their income, which faces a setback in the given circumstances.
Already troubled with the growing house rent against unchanged salaries, many tenants along with family members have started leaving the city for ancestral homes.

Initially, expatriates from Italy, China and other countries were held responsible for transmission in Bangladesh. But the internal migration has also contributed to the spread of the deadly virus.

Many RMG workers made movement between corona hotspots Narayanganj and Gazipur and their village homes. Districts, especially Jhenaidah and Magura, which were “corona virgin”, have recorded some infection cases due to the return of such workers.

The landlords in Dhaka and outskirts are adamant to realize the whole amount of house rent from the tenants showing utter disregard for the present crisis.

In absence of a timeline for putting an end to coronavirus crisis, unemployment and economic hardship are taking a serious turn forcing the tenants to leave the city.

Covid-19 is gradually taking a serious turn in Bangladesh with infection cases soaring geometrically.
Prof Abul Kalam Azad, Director General of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), said the country will not get rid of Covid-19 immediately as the infection is expected to persist for two-three years.

The government is trying utmost to control corona outbreak and its socioeconomic impact. It is classifying areas colour-wise as per the rate of infection.

Experts and affected people underscored the need for reducing the house rent to an affordable limit to stop the indiscriminate rush of the tenants towards the village home.

If the tenants vacate the flats, the landlords will not be able to get replacements amid the economic catastrophe.

Tenants in the capital and other cities usually gather a bitter experience of hike in house rent at the beginning of every year.

The landlords impose the burden on the pretext of hike in utility bills and service charges. Such claims of the landlords are not justifiable as tenants pay their share of utility bills in most of the cases.

A survey report of Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) said the house rent in the city on average increased by 16 percent in 2011 while Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics report shows 11 percent rise in inflation in the year. The report also says house rents in the capital have increased by 249.62 percent in the last 19 years. The house rent in the capital jumped by 23 percent in 1991.

The house rent rose by 15.83 percent in 2011 compared to that in 2010. House rent of a two-room flat in a concrete building increased by 13.27 percent, tin-shed by 14.71 percent, bachelor house by 17.39 percent and slum house by 17.95 percent in the year while 14 percent in 2006, 22 percent in 2007, 21 percent in 2008 and 15 percent in 2009.

Besides, most of the landlords take two-three months’ house rent in advance and in some cases, tenants have to pay advances for six months. But many house owners even do not give a receipt to the tenants.   

Finding no way out, Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh filed a writ petition with the High Court seeking necessary directives to the government to regulate house rent.

On July 1, 2015, the High Court directed the government to constitute a commission to recommend house rents on the basis of house quality and locations.

The HC directed police to take an instant step over any rent dispute in the capital and elsewhere. The cabinet secretary was asked to form a high-powered seven-member commission within six months over the matter.

After being formed, the commission is supposed to make necessary recommendations on fixing a standard on house rent based on locations and update the House Rent Control Act 1991, the HC said in its order.

The apex court also asked for steps to appoint a controller at every ward across the country for hearing and disposing of the allegations over the house rent until and unless the commission is formed.

The HC directed Officers-in-Charge (OCs) of all police stations to take steps so that no tenant is evicted by the landlord illegally and arbitrarily.

However, the contrary to the expected situation is rampant in the capital and elsewhere especially amid the economic crisis resultant from corona outbreak.

A tenant along with a two-month-old child was forced out of the house by a landlord for failing to pay the rent amid coronavirus lockdown. The incident sparked criticism at home and abroad.

On April 21, Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested landlord Nur Akhter Shampa from Dhanmondi area. She was handed over to Kalabagan police station.

Meanwhile, a homeowner is alleged to have murdered an elderly tenant for his failure to pay electricity bills in Fatullah of Narayanganj on June 11.

Hasina Begum, the wife of victim Sirajul Islam, filed a murder case against landlord Mohammad Shahjahan with Fatullah Police Station.

The incident of forced realization of house rent by the landlord in the capital and other parts of the country continues.

Against the backdrop, low and middle income people continue to return to their ancestral homes vacating the rented house, posing a further risk of corona outbreak in the country.

Some districts like Jhenaidah and Magura, which were free from Covid-19, have started to register corona patients for internal migration and return of tenants from Dhaka and Narayanganj.

Bangladesh Bharatia Parishad (Bangladesh Tenants Association), an organization working for the welfare of tenants, has been protesting indiscriminate increase in house rent for many years.

Recently, the organization has become more vocal. On June 9, it held a press conference in front of Jatiya Press Club to press home various demands, including proper implementation of House Rent Control Act 1991.

Experts and affected people said if the landlords do not show lenient view to the tenants and the government does not take step to address the problem, more people will leave the city deteriorating corona situation.