Illegal portions of 3,382 buildings to be demolished: Rajuk chairman

The Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) has identified 3,382 under-construction buildings in Dhaka that are in violation of approved designs and plans to demolish their illegal portions.

Rajuk Chairman Md Riazul Islam made the announcement today while addressing a dialogue titled "Dhaka: The City of Problems, What is the Way Forward?" as the chief guest.

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

Riazul said, "Instructions will be given to suspend construction on these illegal buildings, and the illegal parts will be demolished in phases."

"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 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, identified overcrowding, traffic congestion, pollution, and waterlogging as some of the challenges Dhaka faces.

The key reasons for these issues are the occupation of open spaces and canals in Dhaka and the unregulated construction of buildings, he noted.

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

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

During the event, a book titled "Dhaka's Canals on Their Dying Breath: An In-Depth Look at How the Capital's Waterways Are Being Choked" was unveiled. Written by the forum's adviser Helemul Alam Biplob, the book outlines five key reasons for the loss of Dhaka's canals, including box culverts, flood protection embankments, and unplanned urban development.

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."