A group of professionals, including city planners and green activists very recently demanded immediate cancellation of the proposed amendments to Dhaka Detailed Area Plan (DAP) calling the change faulty and harmful to the city’s livability. The city is in peril already and the changes will further worsen the city’s livability. The government has recently approved in principle, the proposed DAP amendment in the face of, what they say, pressure from realtors and land developers. They expressed serious concerns at a press conference in the city recently about the implications of the amendments. The speakers at the press conference said the government was pushing ahead with the amendments while ignoring the opinions of planners, environmentalists, professionals and civic organizations. According to planners, professionals and environment experts, if the amendment goes through, the number of high-rise buildings will increase, putting unbearable pressure on Dhaka’s already strained transportation and utility system. The city cannot handle such a burden and this move will push the city’s livability to the brink of collapse, said Adil Mohammed Khan, president of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP).
It is learnt that Rajuk officially gazetted the DAP on August 24,2022 with goals such as area based pollution distribution, urban lifeline design, transit-oriented development , but within a year, in September,2023, the plan was modified without consulting professionals, violating its five-year update cycle. It is known only to Rajuk itself, to serve whose interest, the plan was amended. The question obviously agitates the mind of the people. According to planners, such repeated revisions are self-destructive for the city as those undermine sound urban planning practices. The proposed amendments will raise building heights doubling the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) in many cases, they added. The proposed DAP amendments could increase the construction of more high-rises in an already overcrowded city, urban planners warned. More high-rises could spell more chaos for the city of Dhaka. Allowing 10-11-storey building where only five were permitted will worsen congestion and overburden civic services. Raising population density from 250 to 300 per acre was reckless. No global city maintains a density above 200. Such changes will turn central Dhaka into vertical slums, urban planners warned.
The urban planners alleged that the revisions mainly serve the business interest. As it is a serious issue involving public interest, the authorities may consider views of urban planners and incorporate recommendations from social, environmental, professional, and civic groups to improve Dhaka’s livability. The urban planners strongly criticized the Rajuk and real Estate operators for overlooking the long-term negative consequences the city would face due to DAP amendments. According to city planners, increasing FAR in residential areas without addressing population distribution and road planning will obstruct sustainable development. To safeguard the well-being of Dhaka, proper and responsible urban planning is crucial for sustainable city development. What is desired is a master plan for the well-balanced development of the city to ensure and improve its livability.
