Dhaka is a dysfunctional city. The Bangladesh capital has the worst traffic system in the world and provides the poorest of utility services, as a number of studies show.
Acknowledging these issues, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives (LGRD) Minister Md Tajul Islam said that a city should have at least 30% of road network. However, studies reveal that Dhaka has only 5.25%
“I think Dhaka’s road network is below 5%,” the minister added.
The minister was speaking at a certificate handing-over ceremony following the completion of a three-day training program, entitled “Reporting Training on Urban Plan, Development and Management”, for members of the Urban Development Journalists Forum-Bangladesh (UDJFB) on Thursday.
The Press Institute Bangladesh (PIB) had organized the training initiative at the PIB seminar room in Dhaka.
The LGRD minister said: “We didn’t construct our roads by incorporating utility facilities and this is why their capacity has dropped.”
Agreeing with him, Prof Hadiuzzaman, director of the Accident Research Institute (ARI) of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), said: “Around 3% of Dhaka roads always remain occupied. Besides, on-street parking is responsible for 30% of Dhaka traffic.”
LGRD Minister Tajul said: “Many have asked me, including cabinet members, why a provision is being included in the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) against the construction of high-rise buildings in Dhaka.
“The answer is that the capital will lose its mobility if we keep increasing housing without a planned road network, and improved utility, education, health and recreational facilities.”
“Until we can improve Dhaka’s communication network it will be unwise to increase housing facilities as they lead to a surge in population density,” said Tajul, who is also the head of the DAP cabinet committee.
According to the draft DAP, the height of buildings will be strictly categorized for each area so that people cannot easily design high-rise buildings. Many developers have been putting pressure on the government to cancel the provision.
Mohakhali-Gulshan-Balu River water network soon
Tajul Islam also announced that an initiative had been taken to launch water transport services from Mohakhali to Balu River via Gulshan, using Hatirjheel Lake, which will help reduce the traffic load on Dhaka roads.
“Under the plan, we will develop the Dhaka canals like we did Hatirjheel Lake,” he added.
“According to our records, there are 51 canals in Dhaka but only 39 could be found,” he further said.
The minister stated that urbanization could not be forcibly stopped and modern urban amenities must be delivered to the country’s villages and for that “we have finalized a framework of transforming our villages to that end.”
PIB Director General Zafar Wazed presided over the closing ceremony of the training program.
Saiful Islam Alam, president of the National Press Club, and Prof Akter Mahmod, president of Bangladesh Institute of Planners, spoke at the event as special guests.