Experts suggest plans at Nat'l level for urban dev

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Experts at an exchange of opinion meeting in the city Wednesday said the policymakers at the national level would have to come forward to develop beautiful and planned cities in the country, reports BSS.
No plan could be implemented properly without decisions at the national level, they said while speaking at the meeting on 'People-Oriented Sustainable Urban Planning and Recent Steps' in the conference room of Jatiya Press Club (JPC).
Urban and Area Planning Department of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and WBB Trust jointly organised the views exchange meeting.
BUET Vice-chancellor (VC) AMM Shafiullah attended the function as the chief guest while BUET Prof Rukhsana Hafiz was in the chair. International transport infrastructure expert Mahbubul Bari presented the keynote paper.
Jahangirnagar University Prof AKM Abul Kalam, WBB Trust Project Officer Maruf Rahman, DAP Project Director Tapan Kumar Nag, BUET Prof Khaleda Rashid, BUET Lecturer Shakil Bin Qashem, RAJUK Deputy Director Humayun Badsha and Dhaka City Corporation representative M Sirajul Islam took part in discussion, among others.
BUET VC Shafiullah said the planners should think about the future while making any plan.
There are more poor people in the cities than the rich and the planners should give priority to the living of the poor while making plans, he added.
No city where planning ignored the poor could have commercially profitable ventures, the BUET VC said. He placed emphasis on reducing the number of private cars in Dhaka city.
In the keynote paper, Mahbubul Bari said a planned and beautiful city was helpful for developing skilled human resources.