Dhaka: Housing and Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan today emphasized the necessity of ensuring that all buildings are constructed to be safe, environmentally friendly, and resistant to disasters. “An efficient and modern monitoring system should be developed to supervise and verify building quality during the construction stage, as the absence of such oversight often leads to fires and other disasters,” he stated. He urged building owners, engineers, architects, and contractors to be vigilant.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Adilur made these remarks at a seminar titled “Raising Public Awareness in Mitigating Risks of Building-Related Disasters (Earthquake and Fire),” organized by RAJUK and JICA at a city hotel. The adviser called on the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) to fulfill its responsibilities in ensuring the construction of safe buildings. He noted that the seminar could help develop a robust action plan through the exchange of knowledge and experience, serving as a guideline for future initiatives.
The seminar was chaired by RAJUK Chairman Eng Md. Reazul Islam, with Housing and Public Works Secretary Md. Nazrul Islam attending as a special guest. Nazrul Islam remarked that creating a safe city would be impossible if stakeholders do not adhere to the law, regardless of how stringent the regulations might be. He highlighted a culture of disregarding legal frameworks, particularly among the influential, which often leaves RAJUK officials in challenging positions.
Reazul Islam mentioned that RAJUK’s ongoing campaign against non-design buildings has received public support and cooperation. A JICA representative outlined the Improvement of Design and Construction Quality for Resilience of Private Buildings (DCQR) project at the seminar. Additionally, Professor Dr. Rakib Ahsan from the Department of Civil Engineering, BUET, delivered a keynote presentation, while RAJUK Member (Development) Harun Or-Rashid gave the welcome address.