n Farm land, environment key casualties
n Municipalities political, citizens don't get services
n Politicians lack knowledge of planning
Unplanned urbanisation has been taking place in the rural areas where land use is not maintained properly, speakers said Saturday.
If the practice is not reversed, it will not only shrink agricultural land but put adverse impact on the environment in rural Bangladesh.
The views came at a dialogue on 'Problems and Prospects of Urban Development Planning in Municipal Areas' at Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) auditorium in Dhaka.
The institute organised the discussion with its president Professor AKM Abul Kalam in the chair.
Planner Masum Majumder said the politically-formed municipal areas were unnecessary, where citizens were deprived of services.
He was also disturbed by unplanned urbanisation, saying it has been destroying the agricultural land.
In the dialogue, experts recommended immediate approval of the National Urbanization Policy and Urban and Regional Planning Act, establishment of Physical Planning Ministry, organogram for town planners working in municipalities in Bangladesh, establishment of Town Planning Division in Pourashava, preparation of National Physical Plan for Bangladesh, and BCS Cadre for planners for attracting planners in the profession.
The speakers said that many commercial buildings in the cities do not have approval, though planners sometimes develop good plans.
Most of the areas of the municipalities look like rural areas, they said, adding many environment-polluting factories and industries were set up there.
Rules are not followed in building construction, they said, voicing their concern over the lack of both law enforcement and public awareness.
In the dialogue, the role of the planners in planned urbanisation was discussed.
Besides, the planners working in various municipalities highlighted their limitations and problems of development planning.
They demanded including 'urban planning' in academic courses.
Professor Golam Murtaza said that history, geography, and Bengali are taught in the schools, which makes everyone understand the subjects.
But elected representatives cannot understand the urbanisation as the politicians and the common people do not have any knowledge of the subject, he added.
msshova@gmail.com