Cancelling DAP for group interests hinders Dhaka's sustainable planning: IPD virtual discussion

Building a new Bangladesh requires effective urban planning to create liveable cities and settlements for all. However, experts expressed concern on Friday about the influence of business and group interests on housing developments, particularly following the cancellation of the Detailed Area Plan (DAP).

In the past, certain real estate professionals have jeopardised Dhaka's liveability by manipulating laws, rules, and plans related to buildings and housing for their gain. These vested interests should not hinder the creation of a well-planned and sustainable Dhaka. The interim government and relevant urban authorities must take necessary actions to address this issue.

These concerns were discussed during an online seminar titled "Demand for Cancellation of Detailed Area Plan (DAP), Group Interest, and Sustainable Development Plan for Dhaka," organised by the Institute for Planning and Development (IPD) on Friday (August 23).

In his keynote address, IPD Director Prof Dr Adil Muhammad Khan said, "The urban planning strategy for liveable cities worldwide is being compromised in Dhaka due to group interests. Real estate developers are pushing for multi-story buildings on small plots, disregarding the differences between plot-based and block-based housing strategies. This approach threatens Dhaka's liveability. To achieve a sustainable Dhaka, we need to address the strengths and weaknesses of the DAP while balancing business interests with public welfare, health, and the environment."

The event further highlighted that the Dhaka City Detailed Area Plan (2022-35), a crucial planning document for the city, was initially approved in 2022. However, it was revised in September 2023 primarily to benefit housing traders, bypassing proper procedures and professional consultation. This revision has faced widespread criticism and should be reversed. Since the interim government assumed office, the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) has reiterated its demand for the DAP's cancellation, a move seen as an attempt to further narrow interests and impede sustainable development.

IPD adviser Prof Akhter Mahmud said, "Real estate developers focus on housing for the upper and upper-middle classes. What about the lower and lower-middle-class housing needs? If there is such high demand, why are there vacant plots in projects like Purbachal and Uttara's third phase? Sustainable planning for Dhaka should protect agricultural land and floodplains."

IPD Director Dr Chowdhury Jaber Sadek said the real estate businessmen are calling DAP discriminatory, but they are creating discrimination in the society by constructing flats giving priority to the upper class. As a result, buying a flat is common. It has gone out of people's reach.