Staff Reporter
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has said that the Town Improvement Act and Building Construction Act must be re-drafted to make the Capital Development Authority (RAJUK) more people-friendly and relevant to the current times. She emphasized that minor changes would not suffice and that new laws must be formulated keeping only what is essential from the old ones. She stated that RAJUK’s board should not be comprised of only bureaucrats; qualified urban planning experts must be included. She recommended forming working groups to guide the reform process. The Advisor made these remarks during a meeting with RAJUK officials on Wednesday afternoon at the RAJUK headquarters. She noted that the power of the RAJUK Chairman to convert residential buildings into commercial ones should be revoked. The Board, without violating the existing master plan, can take a decision on this matter. She stressed the need for a new vision for Dhaka, one that reflects the perspectives of civil society, RAJUK, and ordinary citizens. Public services must be decentralized to reduce pressure on Dhaka, she added. She called for clarity on whether RAJUK is a developer or a regulator. RAJUK should no longer engage in housing projects, especially for the wealthy. Instead, its focus should be on providing homes for the homeless. The Advisor also emphasized the need for comprehensive, area-based master planning. She pointed out that private housing has never been properly regulated, and this must change. RAJUK must also be freed from political pressure. Criticizing the destruction of productive land in areas like Purbachal, she said that there is no justification for housing projects dedicated to ministers and MPs. RAJUK must also play a role in protecting national and built heritage, she said. The Advisor highlighted that RAJUK has a responsibility to improve the quality of life for city residents. Even RAJUK’s own headquarters should be a model of modern, eco-friendly architecture. She stressed that every project should have an exit plan. RAJUK and the Estate Department must become service-oriented. Services must be digitized, and grievance redress mechanisms must be effective. Supervision should be outsourced, and audits should be carried out by external experts. She also called for re-excavating water bodies like the 9-acre Totail Beel. Even after the completion of housing projects, monitoring should continue, roadside greenery must be enhanced, and rather than expanding land area, supervision should be strengthened. Responsibilities must be delegated to city corporations and municipalities. The meeting was also addressed by Housing and Public Works Advisor Adilur Rahman Khan, Ministry Secretary Md. Nazrul Islam, and RAJUK Chairman Engineer Riazul Islam, among other officials.