Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has called for an end to plot-based housing in large cities, advocating instead for flat-based urban development
Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Water Resources Adviser Rizwana made the remarks on Monday, during a discussion at the World Habitat Day 2025 event held at the China-Bangladesh Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka.
Rizwana said, “We need to integrate housing as a fundamental right within the state’s basic rights framework. One person may own six or seven plots while an average middle-class family struggles. Housing must be recognised as a basic right.”
She stressed that in Dhaka-centric or other major cities, giving plots should stop and flat-centric development should be prioritised.
“People are happy to receive a plot but not as excited about a flat. Moreover, even when housing projects are allotted, beneficiaries often do not occupy them because shelter alone is not enough; supportive infrastructure is essential,” she said.
The adviser also emphasised environmentally friendly construction, noting that “if buildings are designed to use natural light effectively, artificial lighting becomes unnecessary. We need a model specifying eco-friendly materials and lighting for each building.”
Addressing climate resilience, Rizwana said that housing should also account for flood- and river erosion-prone areas.
“We must focus on disaster-resilient settlements that are sustainable and able to withstand climate change risks. Through decentralisation, partnerships, greening, and disaster resilience, we can create safe housing.”
At the same event, Adviser for Housing and Public Works, Adilur Rahman Khan, emphasised that planned urbanisation is not merely structural development but a key to improving the quality of life.
He added that proper urban planning requires attention to land use, infrastructure development, and preservation of rivers and canals. “Unplanned urbanisation is deteriorating people’s living standards. We must think in an integrated and systematic way to create liveable cities,” he said.
