PLANNING alone will not resolve the crisis-ridden urban development of the capital Dhaka. The government needs to address the governance failure in the city development, say urban planners, architects, engineers and other professionals at a meeting that the Bangladesh Institute of Planners organised on October 22. Referring to decades of coordination failure, they say that there are at least 60 public agencies involved in city development, but there exist little coordination between them. Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha, responsible for coordinating and approving land use and property development in Dhaka, lacks the capacity to play its role and is often named as one of the most corrupt public agencies. Pressure from influential quarters is also named as a factor that hinders the implementation of detailed area plan for the city. The DAP project director is in agreement with expert opinions and criticised the Bangladesh National Building Code that allows high rises on small plots which eventually burdens the city in more than one ways. The present detailed area plan will not bring expected changes and improve living condition unless the government forms a technical committee with government officials and experts, to monitor implementation.

The government on August 23 notified the detailed area plan for 1,528 square kilometres under Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha. The plan is expected to guide construction, land use and the demarcation of canals and flow areas. DAP components include density zoning, community services, environmental planning, demarcating places for housing facilities at reduced prices for lower- and lower middle-income people, prioritising pedestrians and non-motorised vehicles, creating regional parks in all regions and flood-flow zone management. The previous plan too included the components, but Rajuk lacked the will to ensure its effective implementation. In 2020, the Transparency International Bangladesh reported that for land use clearance and building approval, bribes are taken through a tripartite ‘agreement’ involving Rajuk officials, brokers and service-seekers. In 2018, Rajuk identified 1,95,376 buildings erected in violation of designs. With full knowledge of the problem and risks, Rajuk officials chose not to intervene. In 2009, the relief and disaster management ministry identified 72,000 buildings risky. Measures to make these buildings safe have not yet been known. A technical committee with administrative power to oversee DAP implementation, therefore, seems important. But without addressing pervasive corruption in Rajuk, it will not be possible to build a safe, green and liveable Dhaka.

The government must, therefore, prioritise addressing issues of corruption, irregularities and lack of coordination to ensure an effective implementation of the detailed area plan. It must also consider recommendations of urban planners and ensure that Rajuk’s capacity is enhanced. The government should consider forming a technical committee with professionals and experts to review the plan every five years to facilitate and monitor the DAP implementation.