Speakers at a programme in the city on Thursday stressed the need of strong political will, proper land management and comprehensive planning for building up a more prosperous and livable Dhaka.
The speakers came up with the urge during the launching programme of World Bank Report titled “Toward Great Dhaka: A New Urban Development Paradigm Eastward” organized by World Bank at the Hotel Pan Pacific Sonargaon.
Speaking as a panelist, Iqbal Habib, Director of Vitti Sthapati Brindo Ltd, said, the main problem is governance. RAJUK (Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha) failed in three areas – land control, land planning and land development.
“Hatirjheel is an example that what a strong political will can do to bring change in the city”, he said.
He also urged on pursuing urban development keeping intact the natural water outlets and maintaining proper land use.
Another panelist Tariq Karim, a former High Commissioner to India urged on the need of a new way of life with changed human behavior specially adapting public education programme on civics and hygiene to make Dhaka a livable city.
“Dhaka is on the verge of becoming a hub of connectivity between South and South East Asia”, he said urging on increased cooperation among the multiple bodies working for the development of the city.
The other speakers Shaila Joarder, Chairman of Department of Architecture in North South University, and Catalina Marulanda of World Bank also stressed the need for stronger land administration, land taxation, and land control for a planned urbanization of Dhaka city.
The study by the World Bank, with the participation of the University of Oxford and Bangladeshi experts, sought to analyze how the opportunity of East Dhaka could be realized.
It suggested a strategic approach to the development of East Dhaka including three critically important interventions- building the eastern embankment along the Balu river, developing critically important transport infrastructure in this new area and reducing the cost of doing business in the new area.
The interventions would cost about $15 billion, but they could lead to $53 billion in increased economic activity per year by 2035, said WB, while Anthony Venables, Professor of the University of Oxford suggested that Bangladesh should utilize the funding access from various sources like World Bank and Asian Development Bank before the funding scopes get narrowed due to the country’s graduation from Lower Development Country (LDC).
