A modern urban plan is essential to make Dhaka livable: Environment Advisor.

ছবিঃ সংগৃহীত

News Desk:
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources, has said that it is now urgent to bring fundamental changes to the development vision of Dhaka.

She added that excessive concrete-based development has made Dhaka unsafe and poorly managed. “For years we talk about the problems, but we do not take bold decisions to solve them. We need to change our mindset,” she said.

She made these remarks today (Sunday) as the chief guest at the fourth seminar of the project “Development Policy and Guidelines for Transit-Oriented Development along Mass Transit Corridors”, implemented by the Capital Development Authority (RAJUK) with technical support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre.

The advisor said structural changes in relevant institutions are necessary to ensure effective coordination, empowerment, and decision-making.

Regarding Dhaka’s fragile public transport system, she said many buses emitting black smoke run on the roads daily. Therefore, without reforming vehicle and transport management systems, making Dhaka livable is impossible. A smart public transport system is now essential.

She also said that Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) could be an important part of a smart transport strategy, but environmental integrity must not be compromised. Open spaces and environmental buffers should not be destroyed for metro stations or commercial developments.

On the slow progress in relocating chemical warehouses in Old Dhaka, she said vested interest groups are obstructing necessary reforms. She emphasized community participation in urban greening initiatives.

Rizwana Hasan expressed optimism that the TOD initiative could create more open spaces, parks, and greenery in the city. She also advised caution against constructing unnecessary markets, saying, “Dhaka does not lack markets; what is lacking are safe, open, and easily accessible public spaces.”

Special guests at the seminar included Md. Nazrul Islam, Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works; Faruk Ahmed, Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited; and Mr. Ichiguchi Tomohide, Chief Representative of JICA Bangladesh. The seminar was presided over by RAJUK Chairman Engineer Md. Riazul Islam.