Rajuk has failed to ensure equality in the DAP for Dhaka

The Detailed Area Plan for Dhaka does not seem to reflect any recommendations given by professional organisations. It has also not properly taken the opinions of the people into account, and could therefore not be called a people's DAP in good faith.

The plan compromises on floor area ratio and the approved ratio seems to favour the rich and the powerful. The plan also lacks solutions for people living in densely populated areas, where the floor area ratio is much higher than that targeted by Rajuk. The masterplan also makes it impossible to save waterbodies because Rajuk itself is planning to build a township in the waterbodies. 

The DAP has various propositions that seem like good ideas. However, they are not backed up with action plans. Could the DAP be nothing but a visionless ideal? Speaking to The Daily Star about this in detail is chief executive of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), Syeda Rizwana Hasan. 

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Detailed Area Plan for Dhaka: Is a liveable and sustainable future too much to ask for?