Demography to define building heights in Dhaka: LGRD minister

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam has said building heights in the capital will be specified based on population density, existing infrastructure, and communication facilities of localities.

He said after identifying population density of localities, zone-based heights of high-rise buildings would be decided.   

"Height limits will be decided based on which area can afford all urban facilities for how many residents, and how Dhaka will be a livable, aesthetic, and modern city," said the minister.

He shared zone-based height limits at a meeting with Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) leaders on Wednesday. The meeting was held in the Local Government Division auditorium of the secretariat to review the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) of Dhaka.

The government is now reviewing the DAP for 20 years, from 2016 to 2035.

Tazul, also the convener of the DAP review committee, said necessary roads, educational institutions, shopping malls, healthcare centres, playgrounds, water bodies, and plantations would have to be ensured for all citizens.

He said the DAP, a long-term plan, had been introduced to make Dhaka a livable, aesthetic, and modern city.

The LGRD minister also stressed setting different utility bills based on rich, moderate, and poor areas as people in all areas do not enjoy the same urban facilities and the benefits of economic growth.

He said, "In many countries, utility bills differ from area to area. Though many will criticise this, we have to make a decision in this regard. Why will the people living in posh areas and those in Jatrabari pay the same amount for bills?"

Md Shahid Ullah Khandaker, secretary to the housing and public works ministry, presided over the meeting while Helal Uddin Ahmed, senior secretary to the Local Government Division, Ashraful Islam, project director of DAP, Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, chairman of Bashundhara Group, REHAB President Alamgir Shamsul Alamin and Vice-President Kamal Mahmud, and high officials of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakkha were present among others.

Kamal Mahmud told The Business Standard, "We went to the meeting, sat with officials, and learned about the DAP review. We did not place any specific proposal."

"We told them to discuss with relevant stakeholders before making any decision on specifying building height limits in the capital. We also requested them to make the decision by ensuring business potentiality of the real estate sector," he added.