Members of the Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB) have demanded the cancellation of the existing “Detailed Area Plan (DAP)” and the formulation of a revised, eco-friendly and effective DAP to save Dhaka megacity.
They called for scrapping the gazetted DAP (2022–2035), which is the final phase of the current structure plan and three-tier master plan, alongside other related demands.
At a press conference organised by the IAB at Dhaka Reporters Unity on Sunday morning, the members alleged that the current DAP poses a threat to the city’s liveability, social justice, and environmental balance.
“The policies outlined in the current DAP (Detailed Area Plan) undermine Dhaka’s liveability, social justice, and environmental equilibrium,” said the speakers.
The members stated that the DAP (2022–35) was hastily drafted to serve the interests of certain groups, leading to legal irregularities, insufficient information, environmental degradation (destruction of agricultural land and filling of natural water bodies), and inconsistencies in building construction, which have caused stagnation in the real estate sector.
They added that Dhaka’s ranking in the global list of liveable cities has dropped from 138 to 171 in the four years since the DAP was implemented.
The IAB members further alleged that while DAPs for small towns have been prepared with budgets as high as Tk 200 crore, the DAP for Dhaka was prepared with only Tk 30 crore, resulting in inadequate surveys and planning disparities.
To save Dhaka’s future, the organisation placed several demands: the current DAP under the third phase of the structure plan must be cancelled; RAJUK and the Gazipur Development Authority (GDA) must conduct proper digital and three-dimensional surveys to ensure logical implementation of the law; those responsible for damaging Dhaka in the past four years under the flawed legal framework must be held accountable; and international environmental commitments must be properly integrated, considering the disaster resilience of Dhaka and its surrounding areas.
The press conference was attended by IAB President Abu Sayed M Ahmed, General Secretary Masud Ur Rashid, Secretary for Professional Affairs M Wahid Asif, and several other members.