Environmental, forest and climate change adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Sunday urged fundamental reforms in Dhaka’s urban development, warning that excessive concrete-based expansion has made the capital unsafe and poorly managed.
‘Year after year, we discuss the problems, but we do not take courageous steps towards solutions. Our thinking must change because the old framework no longer works,’ she said.
She was speaking at the fourth seminar of the Project for Development of Policy and Guidelines for Transit-Oriented Development along Mass Transit Corridors held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre, with technical support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
The adviser stressed the urgent need for bold decision-making to resolve long-standing urban issues.
Highlighting the necessity of institutional reform, she noted that effective coordination, empowerment, and decision-making require structural changes in relevant agencies. She criticised Dhaka’s fragile public transport system, saying: ‘Buses emitting black smoke run on our streets every day. Without reforming vehicle and transport management systems, making Dhaka livable is impossible. Smart public transport is no longer a luxury but an essential.’
Hasan emphasised that transit-oriented development could be a vital part of smart transport strategies but warned against compromising environmental integrity. ‘While solving one problem, we must not create another. Open spaces and environmental buffers should not be destroyed for metro stations or commercial development. Dhaka’s residents need spaces to breathe,’ she said.
Addressing slow progress in relocating chemical warehouses in Old Dhaka, she blamed vested interests for obstructing necessary reforms. Hasan also highlighted the importance of community participation in urban greening initiatives. While optimistic about TOD creating more open spaces, parks, and green areas, she cautioned against unnecessary market construction, pointing out that Dhaka already has sufficient markets but lacks safe, open, and accessible public spaces.
Special guests at the seminar included Md Nazrul Islam, secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works; Faruk Ahmed, managing director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited; and Ichiguchi Tomohide, chief representative of JICA Bangladesh.
Rajuk chairman engineer Md Riazul Islam presided over the seminar.
