Govt plans 'secondary city' near Dhaka to ease capital's growing pressure

Highlights:

• Feasibility study underway for secondary city near Dhaka
• Plan aims to ease housing, population pressures
• Tongi low-income housing project awaits approval
• Narsingdi project subject to demand, land availability

The government has launched a feasibility study to develop a "secondary city" on the outskirts of Dhaka as part of its efforts to reduce mounting population pressure, housing shortages and the concentration of economic activities in the capital, Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher told parliament today (14 July).

The minister disclosed the information in a written reply to a starred question from BNP lawmaker Khairul Kabir Khokon (Narsingdi-1) during the question-and-answer session, chaired by Deputy Speaker Kaisar Kamal.

Zakaria Taher said the proposed secondary city is part of the government's broader plan to address the growing housing crisis in and around Dhaka.

He said the National Housing Authority has prepared a Development Project Proposal (DPP) to build residential flats for low-income people on 98 acres of land at Dattapara in Tongi, Gazipur.

The project is currently awaiting approval, the minister added.

He also said the National Housing Authority is implementing housing projects in different cities and towns across the country based on demand from public representatives to help ease the housing shortage.

Responding to a separate question on housing initiatives in industrialised Narsingdi, the minister said the National Housing Authority has not yet undertaken any housing project in the district.

However, he said the government may consider a housing project for low- and middle-income groups in Narsingdi if there is sufficient local demand, a favourable feasibility study and the availability of dispute-free land.