Dhaka: Housing and Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan emphasized the necessity of ensuring safe and affordable housing for low-income individuals in the city. "In the past regime, people had been following Dhaka-centric policies. Dhaka and its surrounding areas are not well connected, as a result people come to Dhaka for work and are unable to move back after work," he stated.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Khan's remarks were made during a design-research presentation and discussion titled 'Affordable and Inclusive Housing in Dhaka,' organized by the Architecture Department of BUET. The presentation, made by the Architecture Department of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), is expected to play a significant role in developing housing solutions for low-income residents in Dhaka.
Khan noted that the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) and Housing Authority have stopped allocating plots. "After the mass uprising of the students, the government cancelled quotas for plots and flats," he added. RAJUK is now initiating plans to provide apartments through a lottery system to facilitate housing for low-income people.
Additionally, Khan mentioned that laws are being drafted to protect the country's agricultural land. The event was chaired by BUET Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Abu Borhan Mohammad Badruzzaman, with contributions from Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Abdul Hasib Chowdhury.
Representatives from the 2019 batch of the Architecture Department presented research designs and proposed housing projects on two sites in Tongi and Shyampur. The discussion highlighted the importance of coordination between urban planning, architecture, and policy formulation to achieve inclusive housing solutions.