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A group of professionals, including planners and environmental activists, on Tuesday demanded immediate cancellation of the proposed amendments to Dhaka's Detailed Area Plan (DAP), saying that the changes will further worsen the city's livability issues, which are already in peril.
The government has recently approved, in principle, the proposed DAP amendment in the face of pressure from realtors and land developers, they said at a press conference in the city, expressing serious concerns about the implications of the amendments.
They also called for revocation of the draft of new building rules.
Lawyers, academia, engineers and economists attended the press conference.
In a written statement, Dr. Adil Mohammed Khan, President of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP), and environmental activist Aminur Rajib, said that the government had 'surrendered to the pressure of real estate companies' at the cost of public interest.
They pointed out that the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) and population density limits have been increased in the proposed amendments, which will further threaten the future habitability of Dhaka city.
They said the revised DAP and the draft 'Dhaka Metropolitan Building Rules-2025' propose allowing up to 10-story buildings in many areas, doubling the previous maximum of five stories.
This change would result in a significant increase in population density in a certain area, they warned.
They strongly criticised the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) and real estate operators for overlooking the long-term negative consequences the city would face.
The speakers also emphasised the need to exclude realtors and other stakeholders with conflicts of interest from the policymaking process.
They called for proper attention to the expertise of urban planners to safeguard the well-being of Dhaka, which is already burdened with overpopulation.
The professionals also warned of escalating their protests if their demands were ignored, including organising a larger-scale convention.
Since the DAP was approved in 2022, it has already been amended twice within just three years to meet the demands from the real estate sector. These changes have raised tensions between planners and realtors.
On October 19, the government gave in-principle approval to the proposed DAP amendment. The document will soon be published in the official gazette.
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