Bangladesh has an estimated backlog of about five million housing units. The relatively small private sector housing finance institutions are unable to provide long-term funding because the country does not have a long-term debt market and needs a refinancing window, the absence of which has restricted loan operations.  The mortgage industry in India is relatively well-developed but at the same time India faces a much bigger challenge because of its huge population and housing backlog. The National Housing Bank of India, has a unique role of being a regulator as well as a provider of long term funds to the housing finance institutions, is proactive in meeting the challenge of pro-poor and affordable housing.