The theme of the World Habitat Day this year, 'cities-engines of rural development,' was chosen to remind development policy-makers at every level not to think of 'urban' and 'rural' as separate entities, rather as part of an economic and social whole.

President Iajuddin Ahmed and Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in separate messages on the eve of the day called upon the authorities concerned to come up with specific suggestions and proposals for providing better habitats to the citizens.