The final draft of Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC-14) has redefined high-rise, considering the buildings with 11 storeys (33 metres) or more as high-rises against the current seven-storied or more, officials said.
The decision has been taken at a meeting of the government officials, representatives of the private sector professional bodies and stakeholders.
The definition has been changed to avert hassles in getting registration and permission from various agencies concerned for high-rise buildings, though amid objection from Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence Department.
House Building Research Institute (HBRI) director Mohammad Abu Sadeque said, "We have redefined our high-rise buildings as per the international standard. It will help the building owners to go for assessments in internal fire-fighting, safety measures and maintaining other codes."
He said in the final draft the provision of keeping arrangements for rainwater harvesting and use of renewable energy for the buildings above 10 storeys has also been included.
Meanwhile, acting director general of fire service and civil defence Mohammad Zihadul Islam said the redefinition will create a disaster in constructing buildings.
People will not maintain safety measures in constructing 10-storied buildings, which are now compulsory for above six-storied buildings.
The redefined building code will reduce the fire service department's areas of coverage, he also said.
Chief architect of Architecture Department Ahsanul Haque Khan, however, said the new high-rise definition will help vertical expansion of buildings, keeping more space on the ground and upper ground floors.
Another official in HBRI said a group of people may lose their money-making power due to redefining high-rises. Currently they are giving permission to people, who construct buildings above six storeys, through underhand dealings.
"I do not think people or the monitoring authority will be less aware of constructing and supervising buildings under 10 storeys, following the redefinition."
"We have submitted the proposal taken in this regard to the ministry of housing and public works. Later it will be sent to the cabinet for approval."
The official said the redefined code will also help the real estate sector companies to flourish more by reducing their costs.
Besides, people will not require permissions from different agencies, which is a matter of hassle now, as some agencies use the existing high-rise rules as one of their money-making tools, he added.
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