Dhaka: Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) on Tuesday proposed a seven-point roadmap for sustainable urban development, urging the government to make continuity of planning immune to political and administrative changes and to require a mandatory compliance check before approving any development project. BIP President Muhammad Ariful Islam presented the recommendations at a press conference at BIP’s conference hall in Planners Tower.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the BIP’s proposals emphasize the necessity of integrated national and regional spatial planning over fragmented, short-term, and sector-based planning. The seven recommendations aim to ensure continuity and full implementation of approved development plans, prevent alterations for personal or commercial gain, and involve periodic reviews with various stakeholders.
The proposed roadmap also highlights the importance of integrated planning for land use, transport, environment, housing, and the economy, and prohibits development in environmentally sensitive areas that conflict with approved plans. A critical component of the proposal is the introduction of a ‘Planning Compliance Report’ for every development project before approval, to ensure that all projects are plan-based and consider long-term regional needs and environmental balance.
BIP General Secretary Mohammad Mosleh Uddin Hasan stressed the need for a national spatial plan that encompasses the entire country, moving away from short-term planning cycles. Planner AKM Riaz Uddin advocated for the enactment of a Spatial Planning Act to facilitate integrated planning across Bangladesh and called for unified leadership for Greater Dhaka.
Board member Talha Tasnim noted that a shared national database would improve inter-agency coordination and reduce data collection duplication, enhancing future planning efforts. The speakers concluded that implementing these recommendations would necessitate sustained political will, institutional accountability, and active citizen participation.