Govt failed to ensure liveable, equitable cities: Say speakers

The government has failed to take effective measures to make Bangladesh’s cities liveable, equitable, and sustainable after the mass uprising, despite high public expectations, said urban planning experts yesterday.

Although the interim government approved the National Urban Policy and the Spatial Planning Ordinance in 2025, speakers said it largely failed to address major challenges in urban development, management, planning, and environmental protection in Dhaka and other divisional, district, upazila, and municipal areas.

The observations were made at an online planning and development analysis programme, titled “Urban Planning, Development, Environment and Equity in Bangladesh in 2025: Citizens’ Expectations and Achievements”, organised by the Institute for Planning and Development (IPD). 

Speakers alleged that the government revised Dhaka’s Detailed Area Plan (DAP) under pressure from business groups and failed to take strong action against encroachers of rivers, canals, wetlands, and water bodies, as well as polluting industries in urban areas.

They also criticised the government for not addressing persistent problems such as traffic congestion, waterlogging, and noise pollution.

Speakers noted that the absence of ward councils weakened community-based problem-solving, while the government failed to involve neighbourhood residents in addressing local issues. 

They urged the next elected government to move away from mega projects and prioritise effective planning, coordinated initiatives, improved urban management, and meaningful public participation.

Presenting the keynote paper, IPD Executive Director Dr Adil Mohammed Khan said the interim government had formulated several laws and regulations on planning, building construction, and urbanisation over the past year, but failed to resolve citizens’ everyday urban problems.

He said the occupation of playgrounds and parks continued, with public access to many urban fields still restricted. He also said the government ignored citizen movements opposing the destruction of Panthakunja Park for a car-dependent expressway link road and cancelled the bus rapid transit (BRT) project from Gazipur to the airport, which was based on public transport.

IPD Director Dr Muhammad Ariful Islam said even after 55 years of independence, Bangladesh has failed to prepare a comprehensive national spatial plan.

Existing fragmented plans have seen little progress in implementation, leaving the country without a single properly planned city, he added.

Dr Forhadur Reza, associate professor of Urban and Regional Planning at Jahangirnagar University, warned that revisions to the DAP would increase population density in Dhaka and further paralyse the city.

State University of Bangladesh teacher KM Asif Iqbal Akash said existing policies have failed to curb unregulated industrialisation and environmental pollution.

IPD member Tofayel Ahmed Sajib, planner Sajid Iqbal, and IPD research associates Jinias Jannat and Kazi Tasnia Tabassum also spoke, among others.