Dhaka's house rent should be reined in

Dear sir, 
Life for tenants in Dhaka has become extremely tough. A large share of their income goes into paying rent. Many people spend more than half of what they earn just to have a place to live. Over the last 25 years, rents have increased by almost 400 percent, but incomes have not grown at the same rate. 

This gap is making life harder for ordinary families. Yet the condition of most homes is far from good. There are frequent water shortages, gas problems, and poor sanitation�"still, rent keeps going up. Many landlords raise rent without any notice. 

The government and city corporations should strictly enforce rent control laws, require written agreements, and start a proper rent registration system. The rental market needs transparency now more than ever.

Ibrahim Khalil 
Student, Faculty of Law and Land Administration, 
Patuakhali Science and Technology University