Dhaka, June 11 -- The Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) has warned that new taxes and duties on construction materials in the proposed 2026-27 national budget will push up construction costs and ultimately raise flat prices, hitting ordinary homebuyers hardest.

Reacting to the budget placed by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury in Parliament on Thursday afternoon, REHAB President Ali Afzal said the proposal fell well short of what the housing sector had expected.

"We are still reviewing the budget in detail, but what we have seen so far shows no meaningful policy support or incentives for the housing sector," he said.

"On the contrary, new taxes and duties on construction materials are likely to furth...