Dhaka: Housing and Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan today expressed the government’s commitment to developing a practical and liveable Dhaka, with enhanced connectivity to surrounding districts. He emphasized the importance of building a realistic version of the capital, rather than an imagined one, during a meeting with RAJUK officials at the RAJUK Auditorium in the capital, as mentioned in a press release.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Khan highlighted the government’s first major step under his leadership was the abolition of quotas in land allocation, a policy that has already been enforced. He stressed the need for functional development, allowing people to efficiently complete their tasks in Dhaka and return to their homes on the same day. Khan also addressed the issue of unplanned urbanization, referencing the destruction of the Madhupur Bhawal forest area, and called for RAJUK’s critical role in preventing such occurrences.
Khan further advocated for the involvement of local communities in urban development, stating that understanding the needs of the people is essential. He emphasized that RAJUK is operating with this inclusive mindset. Also present at the meeting were Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Housing and Public Works Secretary Md. Nazrul Islam, and RAJUK Chairman Engineer Md. Riazul Islam.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan called for a comprehensive revision of urban development laws, suggesting the need for new formulations of the Town Improvement Act and the Building Construction Act. She urged for RAJUK to become more people-oriented and relevant to current needs. Hasan also proposed that the RAJUK board should include urban planning experts and a dedicated working group, rather than being limited to bureaucrats, and that decisions on converting residential areas to commercial zones should be made collectively by the board, in line with the master plan.
Md. Nazrul Islam expressed his full support for RAJUK, emphasizing the potential for significant improvements in the quality of services through collaborative efforts. Engineer Md. Riazul Islam acknowledged the organization’s image crisis and stressed the importance of honesty and efficiency among RAJUK officials. He also announced that RAJUK would focus on reclaiming illegally occupied lands and building flats for low- and lower-middle-income groups, rather than allocating new plots.
The meeting included a welcome address by RAJUK member (administration and finance) Dr. Md. Alam Mostafa, and a presentation of RAJUK’s overall activities by Chief Urban Planner Md. Ashraful Islam. RAJUK officials discussed ongoing activities, work plans, completed projects, and the challenges they face in their work.