Restoring RAJUK's eCPS

It is deeply troubling that the Electronic Construction Permitting System (eCPS) of the RAJUK remains dysfunctional, leaving the country's real estate sector in disarray. For months, developers have been unable to secure design and land clearance approvals, leading to stalling of projects and disruption of employment across the construction value chain. Industry insiders reveal that nonfunctioning of the system has stalled hundreds of projects and caused distress to backward-linkage industries dependent on construction, including cement, steel, tiles, glass and paints. The disruption began in mid-May, when hackers infiltrated the eCPS server and secured illegal approval for a 15-storey building in wetlands located in a height-restricted zone. The RAJUK suspended the system the following day, but the suspension has continued far longer than anticipated, aggravating losses and causing uncertainty.

The ripple effect has been severe. Realtors estimate that construction delays have left nearly 43,000 workers -- from engineers and architects to day labourers -- without work. Over 300 allied industries are said to be affected, threatening the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands more. What was expected to be a temporary shutdown has now dragged on for months, raising questions about the RAJUK's preparedness, competence, and accountability in managing such a critical system. Officials admit that the eCPS server is still non-functional. They have reportedly sought technical support from the Bangladesh Computer Council and some even suggested the possibility of reverting to manual approvals if the deadlock persists. While such a move could offer temporary relief, it would mark a setback in an effort to modernise and digitise public services, especially since the eCPS was introduced precisely to reduce bureaucratic delays and ensure transparency in the approval process.

If the stalemate continues, realtors warn that mounting financial losses could cripple not only their businesses but also the broader construction sector, which plays a vital role in economic growth and employment generation. Equally concerning is the fact that this is not the first time the eCPS has come under attack. In December 2023, nearly 30,000 files reportedly went missing from the server following a hacking attempt, a case that eventually reached the High Court. Many clients are still uncertain whether their files will ever be recovered. That such a sensitive system, central to urban development and private investment, remains vulnerable to repeated breaches points to glaring lapses in cyber security.

The question now is, how does the RAJUK justify this prolonged inaction, despite the serious consequences for thousands of businesses and workers? Technology is meant to simplify, ensure transparency and improve efficiency. But when its management fails and vulnerabilities go unaddressed, the very purpose of digitisation is defeated. The RAJUK must accept responsibility for its failure to safeguard the system and promptly restore normal operations. At the very least, the authority should have had contingency measures in place to ensure uninterrupted services. The construction sector, one of the country's economic lifelines, cannot remain hostage to technical glitches and administrative inertia. The RAJUK must act without further delay to restore the eCPS, secure it against future attacks and ensure that such a crisis will not recur in the future.