The high-powered committee, formed as provided in the Building Construction Rules of 2006, at its first meeting on November 16 decided that the building rules of 1996 would be annulled by December 31 and the new rules come into force by January 1, 2007.

The committee also formed a five-member subcommittee to prepare a report on the inconsistencies, lapses and drawbacks in the new building construction rules.

The public works secretary recommended an inter-ministerial meeting later to ensure coordination in implementing the building rules.

The 12-member committee comprises three top government officials and nine private sector representatives from various professional bodies. The government officials are the works secretary, the Rajuk chairman and the DCC chief executive officer.

The committee members at the first meeting nominated the works secretary as the chairperson of the committee.

Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon and president of the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (Rehab) Abdul Awal have been nominated vice-chairmen and the Rajuk chairman the member secretary.

The non-government representatives include presidents (or vice-presidents or general secretaries) of Bangladesh Institute of Planners, Bangladesh Institute of Architects and Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh, two professors from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and three representatives from the civil society members.

Prof Nazrul Islam on behalf of the Centre for Urban Study and advocate Syeda Rizwana Hasan from Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers' Association are committee members.

The committee will look into whether building construction is in consistency with the building rules in the Dhaka metropolitan area. It will also ensure justice and equity on enforcing the construction rules.

The Urban Development Committee will have the authority to hear appeal from aggrieved builders and to hold public hearing on receipt of complaint on any irregularities at any construction work.

One of the major terms of reference empowers the committee with comprehensive mandate to oversee overall development activities in the city and make policy recommendations for a just and planned urban growth, said Prof Islam.

The committee has the authority to take any aberration in development programme into consideration on its own and also on receipt of specific complaints, he said.

"Formation of the Urban Development Committee should have widely been publicised in the mass media," said Prof Islam. "But in fact, there were no media representatives at its first meeting, neither the public was informed of its formation."

Rajuk Chairman KAM Haroon also said, "It should have been made widely public that the much-awaited Urban Development Committee has started functioning."

The committee has the mandate only to make recommendations on regulation of the development works, said Khadem Ali, president of IAB. "But execution of its decisions will largely depend on three key government officials as members of the committee."

"Our expectation regarding implementation of the committee recommendations is centered around the works secretary, whom we have nominated as the chairman of the committee," he said.

Abdul Awal of Rehab said, "Role and functions of the committee will not be conflicting with the commercial interests of the real estate developers. Conflict lies in our minds."

Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed said, "I hope the committee will play a vigorous role in streamlining the urban development in the capital. All the members are competent and determined enough to establish justice in the development of Dhaka city."

He said that in the next meeting, he would raise a number of issues including making a list of heritage buildings in the old town, developing an open park and museum at the place of Dhaka Central Jail and approval of some private housing development projects encroaching upon lowland and flood flow zones.

He will also raise the issue of demolition of an age-old building at Jagannath University.

Opposed by certain quarters, Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha and the works ministry could not form the Urban Development Committee in due time though envisaged for fair disposal of building plans and crucial for fair practice in the city development.

The next meeting of the committee is scheduled to be held on December 4.