Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP), the national professional organization of the planners of the country said there is no alternative to formulate integrated plans and effective implementation to ensure balanced, inclusive and sustainable development of the country. In this situation, implementation of intentional cancel of Dhaka’ Detailed Area Plan (DAP) will be suicidal decision.    

According to DAP, a group is trying heart and soul for the repeal of DAP. Nonetheless, in terms of liveability, Dhaka ranks at the bottom. In this perspective, if DAP is cancelled or suspended, it will be suicidal.

BIP arranged the press conference titled “Planned and non-discriminatory development and aggression on practising sustainable planning.”   

Professor Adil Mohammed Khan, president of BIP, moderated the press conference and presented the keynote paper.

BIP said the Real Estate & Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) and the Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB) echoed the same statement in the current political situation. Both REHAB and IAB said, DAP was formed during the immediate past government and it is discriminatory. That’s why, it needed to be reformed. The chief adviser should be informed to cancel it. This is an example of how interest groups can change their stance every moment with the change in political situation for their interests. In this situation, if the existing DAP is cancelled and the previous DAP and building construction are returned, the habitability of Dhaka will further decrease, it said.

Speakers said a group of architects and engineers of the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) is also opposing the DAP. It is necessary to look into the involvement of vested interests behind this demand, they opined.  

Adil Mohammed Khan said BIP has been demanding cancellation of additional opportunities for the conservation of agricultural land and mixed-use of flood flow areas in DAP for a long. These proposals have been included in the DAP due to pressure from interest groups and real estate businessmen. In the revised DAP, it should be emphasized to protect the environment, agricultural land, water bodies and reservoirs. However, the demand for full cancellation of DAP is planned, and intentional and will make a barrier to sustainable development.   

Planner Prof Dr Akter Mahmud, Fazle Reza Sumon, BIP joint secretary Tamzidul Islam, treasurer Dr Md. Moslem Uddin Hasan, Salma A Shafi, Sharier Amin, Abu Sadeq, and Jahangirnagar University students Sajid Iqbal and Yasir Amin, among others, addressed the press conference.

bd-pratidin/GR