Collaborate to build modern, safe, and livable cities: speakers

Urban planners, academics, engineers and policymakers today called for coordinated policy reform and practical action to build inclusive, resilient and humane cities.

They made the call at a policy dialogue, titled “Policy Dialogue on Liveable & Humane City”, held at a hotel in the capital.

Speaking as the chief guest, Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Maulana Abdul Halim said cities must be built around human welfare.

He stressed that making Dhaka and Bangladesh safe, modern and liveable is a collective moral responsibility.

“It is our ethical duty to transform Dhaka into a humane and liveable city,” he said, adding that his party would remain committed to public wellbeing if given the opportunity.

The dialogue was organised in three sessions.

In the first session, “Let Us Build Together Livable, Caring, Governable, Functional Cities and Towns,” Brig Gen (retd) ATM Ziaul Hasan presented data-driven insights on transforming Dhaka into a liveable city.

He also outlined plans to develop Sylhet, Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Barishal, Rajshahi, Khulna and Rangpur into tourism-focused urban centres and discussed strategies to modernise and economically strengthen all 64 districts.

In the second session, “A National Vision for Liveable & Human City,” Axis Triangle Group Chairman Shahjahan Alam highlighted challenges such as extortion in the informal sector and harassment of women.

He said improved governance and urban reforms could help address these issues.

He also stressed the need for better drainage, water supply, fire safety infrastructure, green spaces, pedestrian-friendly roads, cleaner water systems and an upgraded traffic management system.

In the third session, “Building Together,” urban planner Khandaker Md Ansar Hossain criticised Dhaka’s expressways, saying inadequate planning and research had led to financial waste, environmental imbalance, loss of agricultural land and increased public safety risks.

Urban planner Sirajul Islam delivered the welcome speech, while former Youth Group executive director Engineer Hafizur Rahman gave the closing remarks.