Economic Reporter :
Capital Dhaka has virtually lost its basic character as a city since shops and markets have sprung up everywhere for its unplanned expansion and development making it harder for the future planners to reshape it, say urban experts.
They observe that now anyone can set up any type of shop in the capital anywhere, including residential areas, on footpaths, lanes and by-lanes, alongside roads and in open spaces for lack of monitoring and enforcement of law, hampering public movement and causing traffic jams and creating public nuisance.
Professor Dr Sarwar Jahan of Urban & Regional Planning (URP) Department at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and former chairman of the University Grants Commission Prof Nazrul Islam and Urban expert and architect Iqbal Habib came up with the remarks while talking to the the New Nation correspondent.
They said Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), which is responsible for making city development plans, approving building designs and regulating the unplanned shops and markets, is unable to perform its duty properly.
They also said Dhaka’s Detailed Area Plan (DAP) should be followed to ensure a planned city instead of going for random eviction of shops, business establishments, educational and other institutions as there is plot-wise demarcation in the DAP about the type of establishments to be set up in every city area.
Dr Sarwar Jahan said this is surprising how people are setting up shops and markets everywhere at their own sweet will when there are city authorities to control it.
He said the city authorities should work out plans for every residential area based on its number of population and their demands.
“They need to determine how many shops and markets and what type of shops will be there in an area. No one should be allowed to set up any shop and market without any approval from the city authorities.”
Capital Dhaka has virtually lost its basic character as a city since shops and markets have sprung up everywhere for its unplanned expansion and development making it harder for the future planners to reshape it, say urban experts.
They observe that now anyone can set up any type of shop in the capital anywhere, including residential areas, on footpaths, lanes and by-lanes, alongside roads and in open spaces for lack of monitoring and enforcement of law, hampering public movement and causing traffic jams and creating public nuisance.
Professor Dr Sarwar Jahan of Urban & Regional Planning (URP) Department at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and former chairman of the University Grants Commission Prof Nazrul Islam and Urban expert and architect Iqbal Habib came up with the remarks while talking to the the New Nation correspondent.
They said Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), which is responsible for making city development plans, approving building designs and regulating the unplanned shops and markets, is unable to perform its duty properly.
They also said Dhaka’s Detailed Area Plan (DAP) should be followed to ensure a planned city instead of going for random eviction of shops, business establishments, educational and other institutions as there is plot-wise demarcation in the DAP about the type of establishments to be set up in every city area.
Dr Sarwar Jahan said this is surprising how people are setting up shops and markets everywhere at their own sweet will when there are city authorities to control it.
He said the city authorities should work out plans for every residential area based on its number of population and their demands.
“They need to determine how many shops and markets and what type of shops will be there in an area. No one should be allowed to set up any shop and market without any approval from the city authorities.”
