The Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) has urged the government to amend the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) finalising building construction regulations within the next 15 days.
They came up with the call at a press conference held in CIRDAP auditorium in the city's Topkhana road area on Wednesday.
However, in a separate event Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) said it is obligatory to prioritise overall public interest and public health instead of serving the interest of vested interests.
At the REHAB's press conference, its president Md Wahiduzzaman said since the publication of the 'discriminatory and flawed' DAP, landowners in major cities, including Dhaka, have been aggrieved.
"On behalf of REHAB, we have held numerous meetings with various government authorities on this discriminatory DAP and construction rules, sent letters, and made new proposals," he said.
The authorities concerned have repeatedly assured REHAB that they would amend the DAP and building construction rules in the interest of people, giving priority to reality. "But even after a long time, no effective action has been taken in this regard," he said.
If effective measures are not taken within 15 days, a strong movement will be launched with all stakeholders, including the landowners, he said. REHAB Vice-Presidents Mohammed Akter Biswas, Abdul Latif and Abdur Razzaque as well as other office-bearers were present at the event.
On the other hand, the BIP held a citizen dialogue titled "The crisis of public interest, environment and liveability in the revision of Dhaka Detailed Area Plan (DAP) and Building Construction Rules".
At the programme, they emphasised the importance of logical reforms in Bangladesh's laws and regulations related to urbanisation, urban planning and development, buildings, construction, and the environment for the sustainable and inclusive development.
BIP President Dr. Adil Mohammed Khan presented a keynote paper while its Secretary General Shaikh Muhammad Mehedi Ahsan moderated it.
Mr Khan said though there has been some important reforms in the country since July uprising, no logical reforms made for urban planning and building construction across the country for an inclusive and sustainable development.
On the other hand, vested interests have always been active in spreading propaganda regarding DAP. Building owners interested in constructing buildings have been discouraged by their propaganda that DAP will be amended soon, he said.
The BIP also made an 11-point proposal, including the preparation of a whitepaper, and called for action against officials in different government agencies including RAJUK and the ministry of housing and public works who worked for vested quarters.
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