Rajuk to Demolish 3,382 Dhaka Buildings for Design Violations

The illegal portions of 3,382 under-construction buildings in Dhaka, which have deviated from the designs approved by Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), will be demolished after proper identification, said its chairman Engr Md Riazul Islam on Monday.

“Orders have been issued to halt construction of these illegal buildings and their non-compliant portions will be demolished in phases. In the first phase, Rajuk will take different actions, including disconnecting utility connections, filing of criminal cases, cancellation of designs and sealing of those buildings, if necessary,” he said.

The Rajuk chairman revealed the information while speaking at a dialogue titled ‘Problematic City Dhaka: Which Way to Solutions?’ organised by the Urban Development Journalists Forum of Bangladesh (UDJFB) at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity.

“We have identified 3,382 buildings under construction in Rajuk areas that have violated regulations. We will demolish the portions that deviate from the approved designs. As long as I am in office, this work will continue. Whether through demolition or other means, we will bring these buildings into compliance. We are also conducting regular mobile court operations,” he said.

Mentioning the importance of establishing a unified urban governance system, the Rajuk Chairman said, “If Dhaka is not brought under one umbrella, no matter how much planning is done, it will not work. All decisions must come from one place. There is no problem whether there is a city government or a mayor who has power. Decisions have to be taken from one place regarding all the services including water, electricity, gas, services in the city.”

Noting that, it is not possible to do all the work together, Riazul said, “We are ensuring that there will be no violation occurred in the under-construction building. We have no plan to allocate new plots. We will recover the encroached plots and arrange housing for the lower and middle class people.”

During the event, a magazine named ‘Dhakaai’ was unveiled.

Besides, a book edited by UDJFB adviser Helimul Alam Biplob with a title of ‘Dhaka’s Canals on Their Dying Breath: An In-Depth Look at How the Capital’s Waterways Are Being Choked’ was unveiled during the event.

Mohammad Fazle Reza Sumon, former president of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP),who was present as special guest, said, “We have been plagued by problems to make Dhaka more important.

Bureaucratic complexities are responsible for Dhaka’s current state. According to the Detailed Area Plan (DAP), Dhaka will be made livable for 2.35 crore people. In this case, zone-based planning has been mentioned. It is possible to restore Dhaka's livability if good governance and accountability can be ensured. ”

Prof Ahmad Kamruzzaman, Chairman of the Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS), said, “Dhaka was meant to be a city of nature, compassion and good management, but it is now plagued by air pollution, noise pollution, traffic congestion and lead pollution. How long must we face our children’s questions about this unplanned city’s problems?”

Half of Dhaka’s population cannot sleep due to toxic smoke from burning waste at Aminbazar and Matuail areas while 80 percent noise pollution is caused by vehicles, he said.

“Dhaka has become a city of heat. It is impossible to make a plan for 2.5 crore people. If we cannot solve these problems, Dhaka will remain at the bottom of livability indices,” he added.