REHAB demands Dhaka’s DAP revision despite expert concerns

Dhaka Structure Plan 2035._11zon

Dhaka, Apr 22 – The Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) has demanded an amendment to the Detailed Area Plan (DAP), terming it a discriminatory and flawed one.

The demand came from a press conference held on Tuesday at the Jatiya Press Club.

REHAB President Md Wahiduzzaman said the housing industry—through REHAB, its sole representative organisation—has been working as a major partner with the government to address the pressing housing crisis in urban areas.

However, dissatisfaction is growing among landowners, housing companies and investors from the linkage industries due to the current DAP.

To overcome the stagnation in the housing sector, REHAB has urged the government to make the plan more business-friendly one.

The DAP, developed by Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), is a 20-year master plan for Dhaka. It outlines strategies for land use, infrastructure and civic amenities to guide the capital’s development.

“More than two hundred linkage industries—such as rod, cement, bricks, tiles, cables, paints, elevators, Thai, and sanitary—are dependent on the housing industry and help keep the wheels of the economy turning,” said Wahiduzzaman.

He said that the sector contributes about 15 percent to the country’s GDP. “If the issues facing this sector are not addressed, it will adversely affect the national economy and increase unemployment.”

“There is discontent not only among landowners but also among flat buyers. To bring dynamism back into the economy, the housing industry and its associated sectors must be revived urgently,” Wahiduzzaman said.

REHAB called on the interim government and relevant authorities to take quick and effective steps in this regard.

On the other hand, urban planners and experts have opposed any amendment to the DAP, stressing its role in keeping the megacity livable and reducing population density to prevent future disasters.

Urban planners made the remarks at an online event organised by the Institute for Planning and Development (IPD) on February 1, 2025.

In a keynote presentation, IPD Director Professor Adil Muhammad Khan said: "The draft amendments to the Building Construction Rules and the proposed changes in the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) in Dhaka’s Detailed Area Plan do not reflect the opinions of planners. This is extremely disappointing and will be an obstacle to building a livable Dhaka." - UNB