TBT Report
The city administrator on infrastracture, RAJUK, is about to bridle the vertical extension of multi-storey residential buildings in Dhaka. This has been proposed in the new detailed area plan (DAP) of Dhaka Capital Development Authority also known as RAJUK. It is expected to be finalized next December. The term of the new plan will be 20 years.

According to the new plan, the height rules of residential multi-storey buildings will be applicable not only in Dhanmondi, but in all areas of Dhaka city with some exceptions. Residential buildings in N’ganj and Gazipur City Corporations and Savar Municipality under RAJUK can be constructed up to a maximum of 6 storeys.

City planners vouched that the proposal has been made in the interest of the city of Dhaka. If this is implemented, the pressure on Dhaka city will be reduced and the quality of citizen service will increase.

However, some officials of RAJUK have opposed the proposal. Apart from this, multi-storey real estate businessmen also expressed dissent on such rules. Their claim is that such a rule is unrealistic. If this is implemented, the number of residential flats in Dhaka city will be reduced and the price of flats will increased by 30-40 percent. As a result, the real estate business will collapse.

Real estate businessmen say land prices are much higher in Dhaka city. If a maximum 6-storey residential building is constructed on the land bought at a very high price, the price of a flat will increase by 30-40 percent. Then this business will be threatened.

But according to experts, the city can no longer be saved if it does not catch up with the rate at which people are growing in the city. If there is an opportunity to build a very tall building, the price of land goes up and the cost of constructing a tall building is also high. Then it is no longer within the reach of the common man. Controlling the height of the building will reduce the cost of land as well as the cost of building. This will increase the opportunity to buy flats in ordinary people’s housing.

RAJUK is now seeking the opinion of various experts and representatives on various aspects of the new plan. There is also an opportunity to comment online on the RAJUK website and directly at the RAJUK office. It will open till Nov 4.

In addition to determining the height of buildings according to population density, legalization of unauthorized buildings with fines, land redevelopment, land reorganization, development rights replacement approach (reservoir protection plan), transit-based (transport station) development, a number of new strategies were not included in the previous plan. A seminar will be organized on the views expressed at the hearing. The new DAP is expected to be finalized by next Dec.

In the previous act (1996), if a 6-storey building could be constructed on a piece of land in Dhanmondi, the 2008 rules permitted a 14-storey building to be constructedon the same amount of land. According to urban planners, the 2008 rules are one of the reasons for the loss of livability in Dhaka city. Each area has its own capacity, the height of the building should be determined accordingly.

Otherwise, if the height of the building is increased unscientifically, there will be more people than the capacity of the soil, the civic service will be disrupted.

Since the character of each area of the city is different, the quality of civic service is not the same. To solve this problem and determine the height of the residential building according to the character and civic service of each area, the height of the residential building has been determined based on the population capacity of each block, road infrastructure, civic amenities and the type of development there.

As such, the permission for Dhaka North City Corporation’s Khilkhet, Kuril, Nikunj area would be 6 floors; 7 to 8 storeys in Uttara; Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara area would be 6-7 storeys; 4-6 floors in Mirpur area; 5-6 storey residential buildings can be constructed in Mohammadpur-Lalmatia area.
On the other hand, 4-6 storey residential buildings can be constructed in old Dhaka under Dhaka South City Corporation. With the exception of one or two areas in Gazipur, the maximum height of residential buildings in most areas will be 4-6 storeys.

However, this height restriction will not apply to multi-storey buildings where construction has been completed or building approval has already been obtained or construction approval will be obtained before the new DAP is finalized.