3,382 buildings built in violation of approved plans to be demolished: Rajuk chairman

The Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) has begun identifying and demolishing the illegal portions of 3,382 buildings under construction in Dhaka that violate approved plans, said Rajuk chairman Md Riazul Islam on 20 April.

Instructions will be given to suspend construction on these illegal buildings, and the illegal parts will be demolished in phases, he said during a dialogue titled "Dhaka: The City of Problems, What is the Way Forward?"

"In the first phase, utilities will be disconnected, criminal charges will be filed, building plans will be cancelled, and, if necessary, the buildings will be sealed," he added.

The event was organised by the Urban Development Journalists Forum-Bangladesh at the Dhaka Reporters Unity auditorium.

The Rajuk chairman further said, "Whether through demolition or other methods, we will ensure these buildings comply with the regulations. We are regularly conducting mobile court operations."

Highlighting the importance of establishing a system where urban governance is streamlined under one umbrella, he said, "All decisions related to urban management should come from a single authority. Whether it is a city government or power centralised under one mayor, the key is that decisions regarding water, electricity, gas, and other services should be made from one place."

He further stated, "We have no plans to allocate new plots. We will recover encroached plots and make arrangements for housing for the lower and middle-income groups."

Mohammad Fazle Reza Suman, former president of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP), said, "The bureaucratic complexities are responsible for the current state of Dhaka city. If good governance and accountability can be ensured, it is possible to restore the livability of Dhaka."

Professor Dr Ahmad Kamruzzaman, chairman of the Atmospheric Pollution Study Centre (CAPS), said, "Dhaka city was meant to embody nature, beauty, and proper management. But now, Dhaka is plagued by air pollution, noise pollution, traffic jams, and lead pollution."

In his keynote presentation, Sheikh Muhammad Mehedi Ahsan, general secretary of the BIP, said, "Among the challenges Dhaka faces are overcrowding, traffic congestion, pollution, and waterlogging. A key reason for these issues is the occupation of open spaces and canals in Dhaka and the unregulated construction of buildings.

"No ministry has been able to develop short, medium, and long-term plans over the past eight months," he said.

The event was chaired by Motin Abdullah, president of the Urban Development Journalists Forum-Bangladesh, with senior member Khaled Saifulla serving as the moderator.

During the event, a book named "Dhaka's Canals on Their Dying Breath: An In-Depth Look at How the capital's Waterways Are Being Choked", authored by the organisation's adviser Helemul Alam Biplob, was officially unveiled.

Also speaking at the event were Mohammad Nurullah, former chief engineer of Dhaka South City Corporation, and Architect Sujaul Islam Khan, among others.

Referring to his book, Helemul Alam highlighted five main reasons for the loss of Dhaka's canals. They are -- construction of box culverts, flood protection embankments, bank lining, and U-channels on canals, along with unplanned urbanisation and the failure of the concerned authorities to protect these vital waterways.

He demanded immediate action from the authorities to safeguard all existing canals, emphasising, "If we fail to protect our canals and water bodies, Dhaka will lose its livability."