Public spaces, urban planning and architecture in Bangladesh must be designed according to the country's own realities while ensuring accessibility and inclusivity for all, State Minister for Planning Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki said on Sunday.
He made the remarks while inaugurating the British Council-supported exhibition Dialogues in Coexistence: Shaping Inclusive Public Spaces in the Bengal Delta at Bengal Shilpalay in Dhaka.
Speaking as the chief guest, Saki said: "The government is moving towards a policy decision to make public space, urban planning and architecture suitable for Bangladesh's own realities. Master plans for Dhaka and divisional cities are being prioritised, with similar planning to gradually extend to district and upazila towns.
Public projects must ensure accessibility, inclusivity and space for ordinary people, including persons with disabilities. Cities must be designed to coexist with rain, water and climate realities, instead of treating them as disruptions."
The exhibition opened to the public on Sunday and will continue until July 25. It explores how feminist ethics, climate-responsive design and public participation can help create more inclusive civic spaces in the Bengal Delta. Visitors will see installations made with local materials and traditional craftsmanship that encourage new ways of thinking about the relationship between people, nature and public spaces.
Acting British High Commissioner and Development Director to Bangladesh, James Goldman, said: "I am delighted to be here at Dialogues in Coexistence, an inspiring exhibition that brings together art, architecture and innovation to explore more inclusive and resilient public spaces in the Bengal Delta. The British Council's Women of the World (WOW) programme supports this approach, aligning with the UK's broader priorities and our ongoing endeavour to advance climate-responsive, inclusive and sustainable development in Bangladesh."
British Council Bangladesh Country Director Stephen Forbes said: "We are very happy to support this project, as its goal to connect the creative economy with inclusive communities, social justice, and youth agency closely aligns with the British Council's overarching priorities in the arts sector. We see enormous potential in Bangladesh's creative economy, particularly in design, architecture, and culture. For peace and prosperity, communities must be inclusive and shaped by diverse perspectives."
He added: "This exhibition shows how arts and architecture can help people think differently about shared public spaces."
Professor Kazi Khaleed Ashraf, architect, educator and Director General of the Bengal Institute for Architecture, Landscapes and Settlements, also addressed the event.
He said: "The installation is a potential pavilion, a thing in flux, shaped through assembling, disassembling and collective making. It speaks of material exploration, craft and collaboration, from clay and tiles to the people who bring the structure together. It also opens a dialogue between the monsoon, the delta and public space, creating new relationships between the object, the landscape and the public."
Supported through the British Council's Women of the World (WOW) Bangladesh Grants Programme, the project is led by architects Saiqa Iqbal Meghna and Suvro Sovon Chowdhury. The exhibition has been developed with curatorial guidance from Luva Nahid Choudhury, Director-General of Bengal Foundation, and Wakilur Rahman, founder of Kala Kendra.
According to the organisers, the initiative reflects the British Council's commitment to promoting gender equality and addressing climate challenges through arts and culture. It also aims to strengthen women-led creative practices, encourage interdisciplinary collaboration and support the growth of Bangladesh's creative economy while promoting more inclusive and sustainable public spaces.
