Google Alert – Bangladesh Army
The Institute of Architects of Bangladesh (IAB) has called for the immediate cancellation of the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) 2022–2035 for Dhaka Metropolitan City, labelling it as “anti-people, discriminatory, and ineffective.”
The demand was voiced during a press conference held at Dhaka Reporters Unity on Sunday, July 27.
IAB leaders criticised the DAP for disregarding public interest and professional input, resulting in legal inconsistencies, inadequate data, and opportunities for corruption.
They warned that the plan jeopardizes Dhaka’s environment and livability, threatening the capital’s quality of life.
IAB President Dr Abu Sayeed M Ahmed highlighted the plan’s adverse impact, saying, “The construction sector has stalled due to DAP, leaving thousands of workers unemployed. Ordinary citizens are forced to pay hefty bribes to get plans approved. This plan is oppressive and burdensome.”
He further noted that the DAP claims to be the third phase of a three-phase strategic plan, yet the preceding Structure Plan and Urban Area Plan remain unimplemented.
“Incorporating building construction rules directly into the DAP has only added complexity,” Dr Ahmed added.
IAB General Secretary Dr Masud Ur Rashid criticised the plan’s reliance on outdated 2015 data while projecting to 2035. He said, “The DAP is unviable due to the filling of natural reservoirs, destruction of agricultural land, disregard for stakeholder input, and lack of disaster resilience.”
The IAB put forward four key demands:
Immediate cancellation of the gazetted DAP (2022–2035).
Development of a participatory, digital, and updated land management plan.
Implementation of a disaster-resilient, mouza-based DAP, reviewed every five years.
Formulation of an environmentally friendly, international-standard three-phase plan (Structure Plan, Urban Area Plan, and DAP) for Greater Dhaka and surrounding areas, aligning with global commitments such as climate change, SDGs, the Sendai Framework, and zero-emission goals.
Urban planner Toufiq highlighted Dhaka’s declining livability, noting, “In just four years, Dhaka has fallen from 138th to 171st on the global livability index, clear evidence of DAP’s failure.”
He added that repeated attempts to engage with RAJUK have been ignored, prompting IAB to advocate publicly for a people-centric, effective, and sustainable plan to address Dhaka’s challenges.
The press conference was attended by IAB Vice-Presidents Mohammad Mahfuzul Haque and Nawazish Ahmed, former president Kazi Nasir, environmentalist Mahmudur Rahman Mamun, and other prominent members.