Professor of Department of Urban and Regional Planning at Jahangirnagar University and President of Bangladesh Institute of Planners
Dr. Adil Mohammad Khan said that If the structure of urban development cannot withstand the impacts of climate change, then that development will not be sustainable in the future.
"Sustainable urban development will remain incomplete without climate-resilient infrastructure," he said.
He came up with these remarks while presenting the keynote speech at the 15th edition of the SDG CAF organised by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Bangladesh on Wednesday.
At this event titled "Building a Tolerant Future through Sustainable Urban Development," policymakers, urban planners, researchers, and civil society representatives held important discussions on the country's urban development and sustainable planning. The central topic of discussion at the event was Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11—the main goal of which is to make cities and human settlements more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
As one of the fastest urbanizing countries in South Asia, Bangladesh is currently facing multiple challenges in urban development. Unplanned urban expansion, poor infrastructure, social and economic inequality, and the impacts of climate change—floods, cyclones, heat waves, etc.—are making the situation more complex day by day. In this context, the event placed special emphasis on tolerance and innovative solutions in urban development.
In his keynote speech, Dr. Adil Mohammad Khan said that a sustainable urban future requires integrated planning, participatory governance, and climate-resilient infrastructure. He identified the structural weaknesses of Bangladesh's existing urban system and said that if these weaknesses are not addressed, the city's development process will be disrupted.
Sudhir Muralitharan, Country Manager for Bangladesh and Bhutan of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), said in his welcome speech at the event, “Urban resilience is not a theoretical goal, it is a daily reality for millions of people in Bangladesh.
He said, "UNOPS believes that to build sustainable cities, we need strong partnerships, local leadership, and innovations that can be applied at scale. Today's dialogue further reinforces our collective commitment, where we are committed to moving forward together to achieve SDG 11."
The discussion was interactive and participatory, with participants sharing their experiences, thoughts, and strategies. The discussion highlighted that SDG 11 cannot be achieved without integrated progress in these key components of urban development—affordable housing, slum development, sustainable public transport, open green spaces, and innovative financing strategies.
The final part of the session saw participants engage in a forward-looking open discussion on how multi-stakeholder engagement can make national and local urban development strategies more effective. All present pledged to work together to exchange knowledge, build partnerships, and develop practical policy recommendations to accelerate the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11.
