Kazi Aynul Hoque started his career as a doctor, followed by hospital management. He eventually entered the real-estate business in 1999. He is the Managing Director of Equity Property Management (Pvt) Ltd; a company that has completed 39 projects and thousands of homes and are now striving to create a green projects in Chittagong.
How were you compelled to pursue the real-estate business?
I am a doctor by profession and established Holy Crescent Hospital in 1986. Afterwards I noticed that there was a deficiency in the real estate sector. I had then set out to establish equity property management with the commitment of providing quality products at reasonable prices at a time when the one real-estate project in Chittagong was Apon Nibash.
What are the challenges for this sector?
The major issue through any sector of our country is within the management. The entire system needs to be monitored and evaluated for efficiency. Our culture traditionally prefers to govern as opposed to taking responsibility. We must first evaluate ourselves and then others. There was a time when laws were strictly obeyed which allowed progress and proper maintenance to flourish, we need to revert back to this.
What was your commitment to your customers? How do you bring this about?
When we started the company we set out with the motive to cater to any and all customers. We live in a nation that frequently ignores the needs of those that have been deprived and I want to make sure that their interests were being met. To have the most uncompromised focused on these customers you must first train your employees and be their guide. Always ensure that your employees understand their responsibilities and objectives towards the customer. During this process, you must motivate them towards completing a task satisfactorily. They must also be inspired to innovate. For example, we have introduced the latest electrical fittings. You must hear the demands of the customer, understand them and take the necessary action to have it completed in a timely manner.
What ideologies do you instill to ensure quality?
We teach our employees that an apartment is not simply a box with walls. It is the living space where all members of a family will spend the greater duration of their time. Therefore, we have to add value with the resources in our availability. We train them in the newest innovations of the market such as going green. Recently we have introduced UPVC windows from China and it is these small details that instill a sense of trust and confidence in the customer. Once you have established that kind of equity, the quality and actions of your company from the past to present will speak for themselves.
It is critical to maintain quality in this sector. How you are maintaining quality?
I follow strict regulations and refuse to compromise on quality. When I am purchasing rods, I always use BSRM because I know I will receive quality materials. I believe in building strong relations with our suppliers and not buying products just because they’re available cheaply. I look to Japan in this case because of their strong supply chain management. They bring in raw materials just before production to ensure that it is not being tampered with or left lying to deteriorate. We have all the commodities such as mixing plants and sufficient structures to build the capacity that we have promised.
What is your CSR plan and vision for the future?
We are committed to social responsibility within the limited space that we have because building a community allows a company to prosper. Furthermore, we have education programs for our staff wards that help build knowledge regarding their specific vocations. My future plan is to build a Bangladesh that conducts real-estate in the proper manner. With the increase in population on an annual basis, we must create communities that sufficiently accommodate them. They must see their homes as a haven for dwelling and not just a functional space. Our green project has been set into motion to create a better living space. We take a 10 kata property and are creating a living space from 4 katas. The rest is kept for open greenery. There are two elevators and each floor is an individual apartment. This ensures that home-owners and tenants are living in a space of noteworthy quality. Real-estate is one of the most lucrative components that contribute to the GDP and the assurance of quality in this industry is vital to its development and success.
