Experts, civil society leaders and journalists Saturday said private land developers are taking up projects by filling up wetlands under detailed area plan (DAP) only for earning extra profits and not for solving city dwellers' housing problem.
They expressed the fear that DAP review process would legalise the illegal wetland filling by the land grabbers. They alleged that vested interest groups successfully misguided the government claiming that DAP was responsible for stalling all the development works. These vested interests are taking the advantage of filling up the wetlands in the name of DAP review.
They suggested the government to stop land development by the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) and distribution of small plots among the people which will further deteriorate the already critical condition of the city.
Participants made the observations at a seminar on 'Filling in Water body, Urbanisation and Governance' at CIRDAP auditorium in the city. Housing and public works minister Eng Mosharraf Hossain was present as the chief guest while environment minister Anwar Hossain Manju was the guest of honour. Association of Buet Alumni president Prof Jamilur Reza Chowdhury chaired the session. Association of Buet Alumni (Abueta), Institute of Engineers Bangladesh (IEB), Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB), Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP), Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa) and Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers' Association (Bela) jointly organised the discussion.
Prof Jamilur Reza said the private land developers have been able to convince the government that their business had slowed down due to the DAP. They proposed review of DAP with a ploy to maximise their profit at a nominal investment, he added.
But housing projects for 27.5 million people can be implemented within the planned area under DAP, the former chairman of DAP review committee noted.
Drawing attention of the housing minister, he suggested stopping implementation of second phase of Jhilmil project by Rajuk.
The minister earlier told the gathering that he had instructed Rajuk to start the second phase of Jhilmil project aiming to protect common people from land grabbers.
"Time has come for the government to stop selling plots and go for apartment projects. A regulator should not be a developer," he added.
In his remarks, Biswa Shahitya Kendra chairman Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed said revision of DAP means filling up the wetlands again. The review will legalise the wetland filling up process.
Comparing the behaviour of the land grabbers with the indigo planters, he lamented that people have become helpless before their wealth and power.
Architect Mobassher Hossain said powerful quarters, with the help of the administration, have encroached Dhanmondi playground situated in the middle of the two prominent houses like the house of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. This group includes Partex Group, Bashundhara, among others, he said.
Referring to the helplessness of the city corporation authority to protect the playground, he said common people cannot enter the field as those encroachers have deployed private security personnel there.
Architect Mobassher said according to the Geneva Convention, there should not be any arms and ammunition related storage in residential areas. But there are cantonment, BDR headquarter and jail which should not be here in the city. The armed forces have already encroached upon the old airport rather than leaving the city.
Noted columnist Abul Moksud expressed his concern that the Buriganga river will be filled up from Postagola point to Basila within 20 years. He suggested the ministers and lawmakers not to take plot and flat allotment from the government so that general people can be benefitted.
Citizens for Good Governance secretary Badiul Alam Majumder said DAP revision means bowing down before the perpetrators and violation of law as DAP is a part of the law.
Mr Majumder said the immense potential of Bangladesh could not be exploited due to political criminalisation, absence of rule of law, human rights violation and non-participation of common people in the development process. Dhaka's turning into a city of concrete is the reflection of the criminalisation process.
Eng Mosharraf Hossain said his ministry will never allow any housing project by filling up wetlands. He referred to various previous incidents when MPs and other officials were given plots by filling up the Gulshan Lake.
He said the proposed DAP review will not create any opportunity for wetland grabbing. The minister admitted Dhaka city has been destroyed but no development plan was approved over the last 10 to 12 years which has ultimately affected the real estate sector.
Anwar Hossain Manju said he himself has paid Tk 45,000 for getting a clearance of the environment directorate. "I have asked my officials to improve their image," he said while answering the point raised by Jamilur Reza Chowdhury.
Experts said more than 30 per cent of the total wetlands of Dhaka have been destroyed in the name of urbanisation. A study shows that wetlands have decreased by 32.57 per cent and low lands by 52.58 per cent between 1960 and 2008 period.
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